MONTREAL — A new poll suggests the arrival of anti-corruption crusader Jacques Duchesneau as a candidate for the Coalition Avenir Québec has given the party a major boost in voter support.
The Forum Poll conducted Monday for the National Post shows the Parti Québécois still ahead, but François Legault’s CAQ has gained 10 percentage points since the election was called last week. The CAQ dominated the early campaign with news that Mr. Duchesneau, who until last fall was head of a government anti-collusion task force, would run for the party.
The PQ under Pauline Marois stands at 34%, down from 39% when the election was called on Aug. 1. Jean Charest’s incumbent Liberals are second at 32%, down from 38%. The CAQ jumped to 24% from 14%. Québec Solidaire gained two points to 6% while the Greens remained constant at 3%.
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See Also:
Quebec elections: Corruption, education or separation?
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Charest on the defensive in corruption-focused campaign
Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso arrested for a second time on corruption charges
The Quebec Diaries: What’s behind the CAQ’s early surge?
The not-so-predictable Duchesneau effect
Legault: Just say ‘No’ to referendum
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If Quebecers honestly want to take back their province and their lives from the cancer of corruption they are living under then they have to conduct radical surgery election day and totally excise the disease.
My prediction (you “herd” it here first) will be a reduced Lib majority, CAQ will pull a “Wildrose” and be done, and the PQ will knife its leader in an endless round of party conventions!! Quebecers love their “corruption” but don’t want anyone to mention it or have it exposed such that the Liberals are the best of a bad bunch … the corruption that they know!
And who really cares what a westcoaster thinks anyway??
This election could have some really strange results: Imagine a minority Liberal win and Charest losing his seat, who is the Premier of Québec then?
A Liberal Majority and Charest losing his seat: He might be able to convince one of his elected guys give up a 100% safe seat and have a by-election ?
A minority Liberal with CAQ support having more seats than a ” winning ” minority PQ: Sort of the ” Coalition ” situation in the provincial field ? Lots of irony here considering the recent history of Federal politics.
Well, there is a precedent for the former in power Party to try to get the confidence of Parliament first.
Until after the debates it’s hard to know or imagine who will win the election and a lot depends on the CAQ continuing to increase it’s vote and not peak too early.
If the CAQ loses steam then how many votes will be going back to the Liberal versus how many going back to the PQ is the question ?
I have a lot more coming tomorrow. New polls out.
It would appear that the CAQ is causing Charest a problem (as expected).
I will add that I am very surprised that the national media is not all over this considering that Quebec may finally be willing to break the chains that have caused Canada no end of heartbreak over the years.
No more.
Times, they are ‘”a changing’” in that province and I feel a new CAQ government can work with Harper to the benefit of all. Not so much with the “legacy” parties in Quebec.
It’s early times but I see a new chance for Quebec and Canada. I wish Legault well in the days ahead because I trust him.
Goodnight again.