François Legault repeats that he will represent himself in 2026. I am starting to believe it. Even if for the moment, the polls predict him, to him and his CAQ, a beating at the Kim Campbell, even worse.
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Until recently, I was struggling to imagine such a scenario. In 2022, at the end of the campaign, I joined the caravan of the Caquist chief. Even if he was sailing towards a guaranteed victory, he was rascal. Each press briefing seemed excruciating to him. He had also canceled the traditional supper for elections with the caravan journalists. However, “a politician who complains about the media, it’s like a fish that would complain about water”, has already illustrated Jean Charest.
Additional sign of his fed up, in an interview with Journalhe had made conditions to be again a candidate in 2026: a) that his health allowed him b) that Quebecers still want him.
Malhabile words which he quickly disowned in the aftermath of his re -election. We understand why! By rendering his conditional candidacy, he self–carda-boiteux-Isit (allow neologism?). What credibility would a Prime Minister have that everyone knows about his departure? Not to mention that he would thus have stimulated a race for the hostestry between his most ambitious ministers.
Desertion
From November 2022 to the Caquist defeat in Jean-Talon in October 2023, François Legault probably said, in his heart, that a departure remained possible before 2026.
But local and global events and challenges have followed one another. There were the two turns at 180 degrees on the 3e link. The degradation of public finances. The impression that Quebec cracks everywhere and these great economic announcements (Northvolt, electric lion, etc.) that turned into a nightmare.
To leave now would give the impression of a desertion. The loose abandonment of a ship flowing. The one that François Legault, precisely, worked so much to build. With which he made history by supplanting the big parties. For the posterity of this work, he must stay and try everything to avoid a total sinking, to save furniture (because miracles of the Carney-PLC type are rare). Hence the early announcement of an autumnal ministerial reshuffle. Another way of saying: “I will be there! And with new more. “
Hence, then, this announcement with great fanfare, Friday in Sept-Îles, of an agreement with the Alouette aluminum until 2045 (at what cost for hydro? Lights that the price of electricity for Alouette must be unbeatable …). A sort of finger of honor on the “Mister in the United States” which imposed prohibitive customs duties on “our” aluminum. A way, at the same time, to emphasize that after Rio Tinto in May, and despite the crisis, the second largest alumina in the world is attached to Quebec until 2045. François Legault hopes that it will make the Northvolt and Cie forget at least partly.
Certainly, he looks like a politician determined to fight, even if it means drinking the chalice to the lees.
