Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon
Patrice Bergeron – The Canadian Press in Victoriaville
Published yesterday at 10:06 p.m.
- Quebec
Young people are the ones who will support Quebec independence the most when the time comes, predicted PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Saturday, during a public meeting in a Victoriaville hotel, on the eve of a PQ national council.
In front of a practically full room with about 300 participants, mostly middle-aged people, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon argued that young people would support sovereignty more, notably because they have fewer preconceived ideas.
“I never refuse an invitation to a university or a CEGEP, because every time the response is: wow!” “, declared the sovereignist leader.
The PQ is holding a meeting in Victoriaville in particular because it hopes to win the Arthabaska seat during a possible by-election, since the local MNA, Éric Lefebvre, a former CAQ member, is waiting for a federal election to be called to make the jump to Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.
Building support for independence is a major challenge for the PQ at the moment: even though the party is ahead in the polls with 35% support according to the most recent Léger survey, its option remains at 37% in public opinion, with 55% against.
But in a response to a question from a young sovereignist, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon argued that, now that his party has won the attention of the population, he can promote independence by arguing that if his party is credible on a number of issues, it is also credible on the future of Quebec.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“I predict that the age group that will be the strongest for independence, when the time comes, will be young people,” he declared.
“Why ? Because there are fewer preconceived ideas. There are fewer commitments to a political party throughout one's life among young people. But when we come up with a real project for society saying: here is the new chapter in the history of Quebec, it is yours. It is a blank page. Here is the pencil. Young people get on board. »
He cites as proof the many times he has addressed student assemblies in CEGEPs and universities and received a very encouraging reception.
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Mission Arthabaska
The PQ is also counting on another electoral test to boost its option and claim to form the next government in 2026.
After achieving the impossible last year by winning the riding of Jean-Talon in Quebec City, which had never given a seat to the PQ before, the PQ leader wants to do it again and is preparing for a by-election to come in Arthabaska.
Indeed, if federal elections are called soon, the current MP Éric Lefebvre will resign to make the jump to Ottawa and the Arthabaska seat will be free.
However, the riding has not voted PQ since 1998. The PQ association is being rebuilt and the party is analyzing several potential candidates, the leader suggested.
Saturday's public meeting, which was practically packed, made up of activists, sympathizers, but also non-aligned voters, was a sort of test.
Former PQ MNA Jacques Baril was also there. He was part of the first Lévesque government and sat from 1976 to 1985, then from 1994 to 2003.
He felt that the riding was winnable, particularly because of the fall of the CAQ and the disapproval of Éric Lefebvre's decision.
“It's not a foregone conclusion, but we have to reconnect with the base and show that we are there to represent them, to defend them,” Mr. Baril argued in a press scrum.
He sees Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon as a worthy successor to René Lévesque and Jacques Parizeau.
“Ah yes, I am convinced of that, of the way he expresses himself. He speaks to the world and he has his own way.”
And he believes that a possible third referendum on sovereignty, after those of 1976 and 1995, will allow Quebec to become a country.
“I hope it's the right one,” he concluded.