Pained to see how the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) was falling in the polls, Prime Minister François Legault attributed this drop in public opinion to a difficult economic context marked by inflation.
Mr. Legault commented on the state of his political party after the publication, on Wednesday, of a Léger survey according to which the Caquis are in decline.
“It certainly pains me to see Quebecers’ support for me drop. I take full responsibility,” he said in a press scrum before question period.
The Prime Minister made the connection between this measure of public opinion and the current economic situation. “I know that Quebecers are currently suffering a lot because of the price increase,” he said. And then I’ll try to see how I can help them better. »
A Léger poll conducted for Quebecor media shows that support for the Parti Québécois is now at 26%, up from 22% a month ago. This progression seems to be to the detriment of the CAQ, which obtains a score of 30%, four percentage points less since September 25.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s popularity is also on the rise. The poll shows that 24% of respondents think he would be the best prime minister of Quebec, an 8% jump.
Mr. Legault, meanwhile, loses six percentage points and moves to second position, with a result of 23% in this category.
These figures were obtained from October 27-30 from 1,026 respondents to a web survey. Léger estimates his margin of error to be 3.06%, 19 times out of 20.
This decline follows the Parti Québécois’ (PQ) victory in the Jean-Talon by-election in early October, which confirmed the perception of the PQ’s rise. The CAQ reacted by bringing back to the fore its project for a third highway link between Quebec and Lévis, although it was shelved in the spring.
“good helmsman”
Economy and Energy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon also said the economic context could have influenced public opinion. The minister, however, recalled that the government lowered taxes and sent checks to help the population fight inflation.
He also recalled that the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, intends to announce next week aid measures for housing, the reduction of homelessness and the fight against climate change. “Sometimes we forget the past, but Mr. Girard will provide an update next week,” he said without elaborating.
CAQ deputy Jean-François Simard explained that it is normal for political parties to fluctuate in the polls, while renewing his confidence in Mr. Legault. “Managing the pandemic was a very difficult thing that we managed brilliantly. I think today we realize that there are huge post-pandemic challenges, which are as difficult as managing the pandemic itself. We have the right helmsman to overcome it. »
The copy and the original
PQ deputy Pascal Bérubé took advantage of the publication of the new survey this Wednesday to highlight that when it comes to nationalism, respondents prefer the PQ to the CAQ.
“Instead of having the copy, they have the original,” he said. As for nationalism, they have those who are serious, those who really know it, those who are serious about it, those who think that being independentists or nationalists is not a danger. »
Bérubé stated that the recent reactions of Mr. Legault’s budget for a sovereign Quebec, the most recent version of which was presented by the PQ last week, risks accentuating this trend. “I don’t know if he wants to keep the old Liberals, but he’s making a stand for (it) with the answers he’s offering,” he said. Because there are even separatists in his party who look at him and say, “Okay, this is what you think of separatists.” »
Mr. Legault had warned of job losses that would follow a declaration of Quebec sovereignty.
Quebec solidaire (QS) also suffered a decline in voting intentions as measured by the survey published on Wednesday. The political party collects 15%, a drop of 2% in a month. “Surveys happen, there are funat least the fun. For me, it does not affect my enthusiasm for the job”, declared QS deputy Alexandre Leduc.
Liberal MP André Fortin declined to say whether his party, which jumped from 14% to 15% support in a month, is stalling in the polls. He alluded to the leadership race, which will allow the party to have a new leader in 2025. “We have an interim leader,” he said. We have, shall we say, a party that is still evolving. »
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