"Friday morning when I met with my people I was almost convinced not to go," he said. "But there was always that question that opponents were asking me and journalists were asking me: 'You didn't go in 2005, and so if you don't go this time what does that mean?' And I acted against my emotions and said 'Yes, I'll face that challenge' without seeking correctly the objective conditions."
Duceppe already looks ridiculous, given the flip-flop, but the fact that he changed his mind on Friday too, makes him look even more impulsive and rash. This whole affair weakens Duceppe considerably, particularly the admission that he didn't bother to check the "objective conditions" before he made his decision. That revelation, coupled with the back and forth, speaks to a certain amount of incompetence and a complete lack of judgement.
People will remember Duceppe's striking reversal on the "nation" question. In one day, Duceppe went from criticism to support, using verbal gymnastics to justify the contradictions. Factoring in this objective mess, Duceppe demonstrates a real lack of steady leadership. The fact Duceppe felt it necessary to hold a press conference, telling everyone he still enjoys the support of the Bloc caucus, is a testament to how much this self-inflicted wound has diminished his stature.
Duceppe emerges from this spectacle as a loser, as though he had lost the leadership. Duceppe returns to the Bloc almost as a fall back, which harms the Bloc's credibility. A profound lack of judgement, Duceppe will never recover from this fiasco, and truth be told, the Bloc would be better off if Duceppe resigned.
3 comments:
The Bloc has always served two main purposes for the Quebec Separatist movement, first to weaken the Federalist parties in the HoC by providing Quebec residents a place to park their vote and two, to keep Separatism in the public view at a national level. Gilles Duceppe's reversal has satisfied the second of these two purposes. By entering and then withdrawing from the PQ race, he has focused national media and public attention on a PQ leadership race that hasn't really started yet. He also has set himself up to be bullied by the government and the opposition in the House which will engender sympathy in the Quebec electorate. Quite clever really.
Steve, every time I see the term "flip-flop" I'm filled with the suspicion that I'm about to read some poorly considered trivial drivel.
Sorry, that's just the way I am.
I think Duceppe's reconsideration of his plans centre around the emergence of Marois from retirement.
Had he known she was going to announce I don't think he would have. Then when she did it became clear to him that 1) not only might he not win but that 2) she'd be a better choice for the province anyway.
I would love to see the republican term "flip-flop" banished to the snakepit from which it slithered.
dana
Fair enough.
dale
The problem now, the PQ leadership race is a given, and that means no buzz or coverage. Most parties get a bounce after a hard fought convention, a coronation will be greeted with a yawn. The race lacks excitement and that won't help the PQ in my view.
As for Duceppe being bullied, judging by the Quebec editorials and cartoonists today, he seems to be taking quite the beating from his own.
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