CBC calling a Liberal minority government elected to the Quebec National Assembly tonight, with the current standings:
Liberal- 48 Action Démocratique du Québec- 41 Parti Québécois- 37
The ADQ goes from 5 seats to being the official opposition, and Quebec may need a new Premier, Jean Charest lost his seat in Sherbrooke.
So, to the Quebecers around here, what's the bigger surprise, the ADQ not only getting party status, but also nearly taking the election, or the death knell of Jean Charest?
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Charest did end up keeping his seat, although it was pretty close.
I'm happy to see the PQ fall to third place. It seems as though the Quebecois were satisfied by last week's federal budget. I've now heard rumours that Gilles Duceppe will leave the Bloc to lead the PQ, which will make for an interesting dynamic both provincially and federally.
Originally posted by The GoonCharest did end up keeping his seat, although it was pretty close.
I'm happy to see the PQ fall to third place. It seems as though the Quebecois were satisfied by last week's federal budget. I've now heard rumours that Gilles Duceppe will leave the Bloc to lead the PQ, which will make for an interesting dynamic both provincially and federally.
So, to expand this, what does it mean for Stephen Harper? Charest is (or at least was) federally a Conservative, and any ADQ gains were seen as a sign that the Tories could grab a greater foothold in Quebec. Everything I've seen says that Andre Boisclair is probably hanging onto his job as PQ leader by a thread this morning, given the PQ propensity to give their leaders little to no slack. If Duceppe decides to move down to the provincial level, does Harper see this as an oppourtunity to blow up this Parliament, and try for an outright majority?
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From what I've heard, conventional wisdom has indicated that a result such as what happened could indeed spur Harper to dissolve Parliament for a general election this spring. The satisfaction of the Quebecois voter with the federal government should lead to increased Conservative Party votes within the province. I believe as well that the numbers lately have leaned towards a close majority for the Conservatives - outside of various MPs flipping parties, I don't think there's been too much that's angered the average Canadian to the point of punishing the existing government. If anything, there's a strong ambivalence towards Liberal leader Stephane Dion which could hurt that party if an election were to be held shortly.
I'd guess that if an election does happen, Duceppe would probably hang on until that result before making a decision to switch to provincial politics.
Wow...I didn't see that coming. The ADQ becoming official Opposition, despite not running a candidate in every riding? It's an exciting time in Quebec politics.
I've seen THREE movies so far this year: Because I Said So - (3*); Borat - (5*); Children Of Men - (4*)
One of the wacky things about the election is that Mario Dumont, leader of the ADQ had to fire two candidates for uttering sexist/racist remarks and both of the replacements won.
Lise Lefebvre in Deux Montagnes - the home of the Green Phantom and some guy I don't remember in Prevost - the home of TWIGGY
Also for a primer on the wackiness of Quebec politics my last When We Were Marks column in the wrestling section is all about the election and the reasonable accomodation debate (with some wrestling content)
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