A hiding place

Elected in 2016 during a by -election. Nevertheless, successively re -elected in 2018 and in 2022, the Caquist deputy Eric Lefebvre – Whip -in -chief of the government in addition – left his post of deputy for Arthabaska on March 18 to appear in the federal elections of April 28 in the county of Richmond–Arthabaska under the banner of the Conservative Party of Pierre Poilievre and he won the victory.

What were his motivations? Furthermore, On the one hand. Similarly, the growing unpopularity of the government of François Legault made his re -election more and more improbable as a deputy and even more the prospect of sitting as minister in the National Assembly.

On the other hand. Meanwhile, the polls last winter gave a comfortable advance of around twenty points to the hairy troops on the liberal opponent. In addition, There was, at the hiding place end, the possibility for Mr. In addition, Lefebvre to become Minister, if not at least to improve his working conditions. Let’s just think of a federal deputy receives an annual salary of $ 209. 800, while a deputy for the National Assembly only receives $ 141,625.

François Legault therefore had to trigger a by -election in the county left vacant by being animated by a certain confidence. since this county of Arthabaska corresponds precisely to the target electorate of the CAQ: mostly white population, practically unilingual French -speaking and counting very few immigrants. A county where laws 96 and 21 were very popular.

Yet…

The only survey made public. that of the Segma firm carried out in June, indicates a fight at the elbow, the Parti Québécois collecting 42% of the voting intentions, one more point than the conservative party. The other parties – Liberals, Québec Solidaire and La Caq hiding place – share the grenailles. An average deconfitation!

If François Legault chose to hold this ballot in summer. precisely during the construction holidays, it was obviously to prevent us from talking about it too much and, at the same time, to reduce the impact to public opinion.

The election of Eric Duhaime in this county. which he has been working for more than a year and that he is likely to win, could make waves, providing his party, which has not been elected deputy for more than a century, a new legitimacy with a voice in the National Assembly.

But beware! For the past year, PQ has been on the wind in the sails. His candidate Alex Boissonneault was, until recently, the morning host on the local radio of Radio-Canada.

Of course, Duhaime was likely to remember that Boissonneault was not always a choir child. In 2001, he was arrested two hiding place days before the opening of the Americas Summit in possession of various offensive equipment. He did 40 days in prison and six months of community work.

History is clear today of the past. what I remember from my conversations with people involved is that the question of the urn is clear: “We don’t want CAQs anymore” “

Everything indicates that the CAQ’s dream is coming to an end and when Mr. Legault affirms that he will lead his troops in the next elections. it seems clear to me that a serious doubt is essential.