Disappointed, the solidarity nevertheless congratulate themselves for having resisted the wave of caquiste

Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press

SHERBROOKE, Qc — It’s time for the post-mortem at Québec solidaire (QS). Disappointed at not having made more gains in the last elections, the political party still believes that it « resisted » the CAQ surge.

QS is the only opposition party to have swelled its ranks, immediately underlined its co-spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, upon his arrival at the caucus of deputies being held Thursday in Sherbrooke.

« Congratulations to those who resisted the CAQ relentlessness, » launched Manon Massé alongside her, adding that of course, « we would all have wanted different results. »

The campaign did not give “the ideal gains, the gains we wanted,” admitted Mr. Nadeau-Dubois.

“But I am so proud that our party managed to resist this wave. To be the political party that came second in the popular vote, that means something important,” added Ms. Massé.

This post-election QS caucus in Sherbrooke, where Christine Labrie defeated caquiste Caroline St-Hilaire, is the first meeting organized by the party since the October 3 election, 10 days ago.

That evening, QS made only one gain, dropping from 10 to 11 seats. The defeat of Émilise Lessard-Therrien in Rouyn-Noranda—Témiscamingue was particularly painful, admitted Thursday the deputy Andrés Fontecilla.

“Very disappointed”, he dropped in an impromptu press. To have failed to make gains in the region « is part of the elements of disappointment », he added, saying that it was now necessary to examine what had worked less well.

No question of being denatured

The tax on the rich, “perhaps we could have explained it differently”, but it will not be abandoned, according to Mr. Fontecilla. « It’s part of our vision. We must strengthen the capacity of the State to finance projects.”

During the election campaign, QS had promised to introduce a tax on net assets of more than a million dollars and on large estates, in particular. “Orange taxes”, had struck the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ).

“There are absolutely immoral accumulations of capital that take place among people who are very, very rich in Quebec. (…) So there is something to do, ”maintained Haroun Bouazzi, elected in Maurice-Richard, on Thursday.

If the elected representatives recognize that there is a “reflection” to be carried out at QS in the light of the electoral results, they insist that they will not abandon their values ​​and their ideals.

“We are not going to denature our DNA. We are a left-wing party, declared the deputy for Rosemont, Vincent Marissal. It is the population that did not deliver the expected result. It’s called democracy. »

At the end of the pandemic, Quebecers were rather satisfied with the Legault government and did not want “to change things so much in Quebec”, analyzes Andrés Fontecilla.

“Often, the waves are a bit irrational,” adds Mr. Marissal. When the tsunami leaves there, hang on to the baobab because it’s going to wind and there’s going to be a fleet. We still managed to hold on. »

The defeated candidates were not invited to participate in the caucus on Thursday.