Quebec: separatists against the economic crisis
September 4 in Quebec - the second largest population (almost 8 million) and the first province of Canada - held parliamentary elections. If in recent years the province has been run by local liberals, who won elections three times in a row, this time the separatists have won the majority of votes - representatives of the “Quebec Party” (“Parti Quebecois”), which stands for secession of the province from Canada.
In the past, this party has twice held a referendum on secession: in 1980 and 1995. On the first plebiscite, 59,6% voted against the secession of Quebec, and on the second - 50,6%; thus, the number of supporters of independence has grown. However on the situation like count them. analysts, influenced the global economic crisis of the year 2008. Today, many Quebec people find it difficult to live alone in turbulent times.
The victory of the separatists does not mean that the population of Quebec actively and in full force supports the separation of the province from Canada. According to the recent public opinion pollOnly 28% of Quebec men supports the idea of province independence. Besides the party, having won the election, received Only 61 from 125 seats in the local parliament, which is not enough to initiate a referendum: it is required to obtain the consent of the other deputies. Head of the Canadian Department of Political Affairs Sector at the Institute of US and Canadian Studies, RAS says: “In general, the trend is that minority governments, which do not have more than half of the mandates, are short-lived. It is possible that new elections will soon be held in Quebec. The minority government does not have enough votes to automatically conduct its decisions; therefore, of course, they must enlist the support of other parties. ” Today, the Liberal Party continues to maintain a strong position in Parliament: if the "Quebec Party" received 43% of votes in the elections, the liberals got 40%. Another 15% of voters voted for the Coalition for the Future of Quebec. With whom will the Quebec party identify, if the other parties that have entered parliament are in favor of preserving the province within Canada? And why did people vote for the separatists?
It is possible that many residents of the province simply became disillusioned with the “Liberal Party”, and therefore preferred “Quebec”. First, the ruling liberals constantly raised tuition fees at universities, which caused mass protests in Quebec (hundreds of thousands of students and those who support them take to the streets, there are clashes with the police. Read more about this earlier "Military Review". Quebec, and all of Canada, was particularly “shaken” in May (2012). In the last protests in Quebec, 200.000 people participated. Secondly, the liberal party is involved in corruption scandals. Thirdly, the notorious economic crisis that affected Quebec people just under the liberals: the province’s debt is already 186 billion US dollars.
As is customary in the elections, the separatist party played on the mood of the protesters, including disgruntled students and their senior allies, who represent a significant part of the electorate. If the liberals were going to adhere to the policy of increasing the cost of education in universities, then Pauline Marua, leader of the separatists nicknamed Concrete Lady, announced the planned abolition of the initiatives of the liberals. However, according to the laws of demagogy, she (like the American Mitt Romney, who advocates an increase in the US military budget, but does not explain where he will take the money for that while the country's debt is constantly growing) did not indicate the source of funds for financing Québec’s budget deficit.
Played 63-year-old Concrete Lady and Francophone moods. She spoke not only for secession from Canada and adoption of the Constitution, but also for the fact that officials handed over French proficiency test, and businessmen used it, and not English, when making commercial deals.
Jean Charest, the Prime Minister of Quebec, has already announced that he is leaving the post of head of the Liberal Party. is he сказал: “I will leave the post of head of the Québec Liberal Party in a few days, when a new government will be formed. For me and my family, it's time to take a new step, turn the page. ” Leaves Chare and the post of Prime Minister of Quebec.
Pauline Maroua will sit in his ministerial chair. It is possible that the Concrete Lady will be able to form a parliamentary union with the Coalition for the Future of Quebec. By the way, the leader of this party, Francois Lego, on the eve of the elections He pledged introduce a ten-year moratorium on the question of independence, thereby "stopping the struggle around the referendum." He also said that he would not create a coalition with either the separatists or the liberals. but added: he will support Pauline Maroua if she focuses on fighting corruption and reforming the health care system. And the Concrete Lady, on behalf of her party, promises to solve social problems: to return the low cost of education to students; raise taxes on large businesses, freeze electricity tariffs, etc.
Elena Komkova считает Maroua is an experienced politician who has chances for success: “Pauline Maroua is an experienced politician, she has held various ministerial posts in the Quebec government and knows the situation very well. Now for her number one priority is the economy. It is important to improve the situation in Quebec, where there is a large domestic debt, rather high unemployment, and moreover, Quebec students have been on strike all spring, as they have been paid higher tuition fees at universities. ”
Therefore, it is obvious that Maroua will not rush to the referendum on independence, but will deal with urgent economic issues. Moreover, during the crisis, the idea of separation is not very popular. By the way, Pauline Maroua will be the first woman to occupy the post of Prime Minister of Quebec. how put Philip Othier from The Gazette, Maroua will be there where "a woman’s leg has not yet stepped."
First thing she going meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in order to discuss the transfer of control over immigration policy to Quebec and some issues of labor law. True, Mr. Harper himself more than once declared his unwillingness to cooperate with the Quebec separatists. Probably, now he will still have to work with them - otherwise he may provoke a conflict, after which a referendum on secession of Quebec will immediately break out. Speaking after the elections at the party congress, Maroua told her supporters that held telephone conversations with Harper - more precisely, "cordial conversation".
The speech of the Concrete Lady at the congress dedicated to the election victory was overshadowed by shooting. Some crazy man shouting “The English woke up!”, Being near the building where the congress took place, opened fire with a rifle. Montreal "The Gazette" gives information about the death of one 48-year lighting. The killer is Richard Henry Bain, he is described as a "mentally balanced personality." Denis Blanchett, who died from the shots of a madman, Quebec have dedicated night vigil. Interestingly, before the most shots Pauline Maroua said: “The future of Quebec is to become a sovereign country.”
Maroua plans to form a new government within two weeks. She can't wait to promote her political projects. She is promised voters act quickly and with a special decree to repeal the 78 bill, which tightened the requirements for public demonstrations, and annul the ruling on raising the cost of education in universities. In order to fight corruption, Maroua will eliminate the loopholes in Quebec’s legislation that companies use to obtain government contracts. She also confirmed her intention to “promote” French in Quebec. “I will go as far as I can,” said Concrete Lady.
Jean Marais, quitting Quebec politics ("choking with tears and emotions," as the Montreal journalist writes), wished his successor luck and said: "I announce my resignation without any regrets."
Finishing this little note about the changes in Quebec, it is necessary to state the following fact: if the separatists won here, this does not mean that the province will secede from Canada in the near future; the reason for victory is more economic than political. Residents of Quebec want to end corruption, want cheap higher education (by the way, its cost is already lower than the cost of education in other Canadian provinces) and strive to ensure that Quebec does not grow, but regional debt goes down. People want to live better - and consider the second question who will lead them to a better life. If Monsieur Chartis, who is prone to tightening laws and raising tariffs, has failed to cope with the crisis and unrest, perhaps the Concrete Lady can improve life in Quebec. In any case, students will soon be able to celebrate a victory - a double one: in the struggle for their disadvantaged rights, and in the elections. Leo Bureau-Bluen, one of the outstanding leaders of the student movement, was the youngest deputy in stories Quebec National Assembly: it’s just 20. He was running, of course, from the Quebec Party.
In the past, this party has twice held a referendum on secession: in 1980 and 1995. On the first plebiscite, 59,6% voted against the secession of Quebec, and on the second - 50,6%; thus, the number of supporters of independence has grown. However on the situation like count them. analysts, influenced the global economic crisis of the year 2008. Today, many Quebec people find it difficult to live alone in turbulent times.
The victory of the separatists does not mean that the population of Quebec actively and in full force supports the separation of the province from Canada. According to the recent public opinion pollOnly 28% of Quebec men supports the idea of province independence. Besides the party, having won the election, received Only 61 from 125 seats in the local parliament, which is not enough to initiate a referendum: it is required to obtain the consent of the other deputies. Head of the Canadian Department of Political Affairs Sector at the Institute of US and Canadian Studies, RAS says: “In general, the trend is that minority governments, which do not have more than half of the mandates, are short-lived. It is possible that new elections will soon be held in Quebec. The minority government does not have enough votes to automatically conduct its decisions; therefore, of course, they must enlist the support of other parties. ” Today, the Liberal Party continues to maintain a strong position in Parliament: if the "Quebec Party" received 43% of votes in the elections, the liberals got 40%. Another 15% of voters voted for the Coalition for the Future of Quebec. With whom will the Quebec party identify, if the other parties that have entered parliament are in favor of preserving the province within Canada? And why did people vote for the separatists?
It is possible that many residents of the province simply became disillusioned with the “Liberal Party”, and therefore preferred “Quebec”. First, the ruling liberals constantly raised tuition fees at universities, which caused mass protests in Quebec (hundreds of thousands of students and those who support them take to the streets, there are clashes with the police. Read more about this earlier "Military Review". Quebec, and all of Canada, was particularly “shaken” in May (2012). In the last protests in Quebec, 200.000 people participated. Secondly, the liberal party is involved in corruption scandals. Thirdly, the notorious economic crisis that affected Quebec people just under the liberals: the province’s debt is already 186 billion US dollars.
As is customary in the elections, the separatist party played on the mood of the protesters, including disgruntled students and their senior allies, who represent a significant part of the electorate. If the liberals were going to adhere to the policy of increasing the cost of education in universities, then Pauline Marua, leader of the separatists nicknamed Concrete Lady, announced the planned abolition of the initiatives of the liberals. However, according to the laws of demagogy, she (like the American Mitt Romney, who advocates an increase in the US military budget, but does not explain where he will take the money for that while the country's debt is constantly growing) did not indicate the source of funds for financing Québec’s budget deficit.
Played 63-year-old Concrete Lady and Francophone moods. She spoke not only for secession from Canada and adoption of the Constitution, but also for the fact that officials handed over French proficiency test, and businessmen used it, and not English, when making commercial deals.
Jean Charest, the Prime Minister of Quebec, has already announced that he is leaving the post of head of the Liberal Party. is he сказал: “I will leave the post of head of the Québec Liberal Party in a few days, when a new government will be formed. For me and my family, it's time to take a new step, turn the page. ” Leaves Chare and the post of Prime Minister of Quebec.
Pauline Maroua will sit in his ministerial chair. It is possible that the Concrete Lady will be able to form a parliamentary union with the Coalition for the Future of Quebec. By the way, the leader of this party, Francois Lego, on the eve of the elections He pledged introduce a ten-year moratorium on the question of independence, thereby "stopping the struggle around the referendum." He also said that he would not create a coalition with either the separatists or the liberals. but added: he will support Pauline Maroua if she focuses on fighting corruption and reforming the health care system. And the Concrete Lady, on behalf of her party, promises to solve social problems: to return the low cost of education to students; raise taxes on large businesses, freeze electricity tariffs, etc.
Elena Komkova считает Maroua is an experienced politician who has chances for success: “Pauline Maroua is an experienced politician, she has held various ministerial posts in the Quebec government and knows the situation very well. Now for her number one priority is the economy. It is important to improve the situation in Quebec, where there is a large domestic debt, rather high unemployment, and moreover, Quebec students have been on strike all spring, as they have been paid higher tuition fees at universities. ”
Therefore, it is obvious that Maroua will not rush to the referendum on independence, but will deal with urgent economic issues. Moreover, during the crisis, the idea of separation is not very popular. By the way, Pauline Maroua will be the first woman to occupy the post of Prime Minister of Quebec. how put Philip Othier from The Gazette, Maroua will be there where "a woman’s leg has not yet stepped."
First thing she going meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in order to discuss the transfer of control over immigration policy to Quebec and some issues of labor law. True, Mr. Harper himself more than once declared his unwillingness to cooperate with the Quebec separatists. Probably, now he will still have to work with them - otherwise he may provoke a conflict, after which a referendum on secession of Quebec will immediately break out. Speaking after the elections at the party congress, Maroua told her supporters that held telephone conversations with Harper - more precisely, "cordial conversation".
The speech of the Concrete Lady at the congress dedicated to the election victory was overshadowed by shooting. Some crazy man shouting “The English woke up!”, Being near the building where the congress took place, opened fire with a rifle. Montreal "The Gazette" gives information about the death of one 48-year lighting. The killer is Richard Henry Bain, he is described as a "mentally balanced personality." Denis Blanchett, who died from the shots of a madman, Quebec have dedicated night vigil. Interestingly, before the most shots Pauline Maroua said: “The future of Quebec is to become a sovereign country.”
Maroua plans to form a new government within two weeks. She can't wait to promote her political projects. She is promised voters act quickly and with a special decree to repeal the 78 bill, which tightened the requirements for public demonstrations, and annul the ruling on raising the cost of education in universities. In order to fight corruption, Maroua will eliminate the loopholes in Quebec’s legislation that companies use to obtain government contracts. She also confirmed her intention to “promote” French in Quebec. “I will go as far as I can,” said Concrete Lady.
Jean Marais, quitting Quebec politics ("choking with tears and emotions," as the Montreal journalist writes), wished his successor luck and said: "I announce my resignation without any regrets."
Finishing this little note about the changes in Quebec, it is necessary to state the following fact: if the separatists won here, this does not mean that the province will secede from Canada in the near future; the reason for victory is more economic than political. Residents of Quebec want to end corruption, want cheap higher education (by the way, its cost is already lower than the cost of education in other Canadian provinces) and strive to ensure that Quebec does not grow, but regional debt goes down. People want to live better - and consider the second question who will lead them to a better life. If Monsieur Chartis, who is prone to tightening laws and raising tariffs, has failed to cope with the crisis and unrest, perhaps the Concrete Lady can improve life in Quebec. In any case, students will soon be able to celebrate a victory - a double one: in the struggle for their disadvantaged rights, and in the elections. Leo Bureau-Bluen, one of the outstanding leaders of the student movement, was the youngest deputy in stories Quebec National Assembly: it’s just 20. He was running, of course, from the Quebec Party.
Observed and translated by Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
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