By Pierre Karl Péladeau, former Leader of the Parti Québécois
As many of you have heard, I recently stepped down as the leader of the Parti Quebecois after less than a year in office. Although many may speculate as to the reasons why I was unable to effectively lead the party and bring it the respect it deserved, I am here to set the record straight: The only obstacle in my path to success for the PQ was my absolute inability to succeed.
I am not trying to make excuses or be a Monday Morning Quart-arrière. But I feel compelled to explain to my loyal supporters that there was a valid reason for the complete disaster that the Parti Quebecois became since I took over. My handicap of my fundamental incapacity to achieve the things that I wanted to achieve simply stood in my way.
Nor am I the first PQ leader to face this unavoidable dilemma. Both Marois and Boisclair battled privately with being terrible, terrible leaders. And indeed, Gilles Duceppe eventually himself fell victim to the conflict of trying to lead the Bloc Quebecois to greatness while simultaneously having become entirely unfit for the job since 2010. However, I believe I am the first party leader to try to shine light on this unfortunate obstruction and hope we can move past it.
Now I know many of you are saying “How brave!” or “What a courageous man and also so handsome!” But I am no hero. I just want to point out to all those who blame me for the party’s failure that I struggled – daily – with the burden of not being very good at the job.
Certainly, my choice to embrace the sovereigntist position was ill-advised given the exhaustion of the Quebec populace with the topic. And yes, at no point did I feel or appear to feel comfortable with occupying the role of politician. But the finger should not be pointed at me for these blunders. Instead, I ask that everyone recognize that they were symptoms of a major stumbling block placed in front of me – being a shitty leader.
While I wish that more people could have looked past this issue and supported me further, my time has passed. Instead, I urge all Canadians to think of others in their lives – family, friends, employees, political leaders – who may be absolute garbage at the things people rely on them for. Ask yourselves, “Am I really going to hold their dangerous inadequacy against them?” Or rather, will you look past such a minor quibble and allow them to carry on, knowing well that each day they are embroiled in their own fight against the fact that they are doomed to failure.
If even one person heeds my words and has a little more patience with those who should under no circumstances be in the position they are in, I will sleep well. On my hyper-yacht. Surrounded by gold and other precious metals.
