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|Monday February 2, 2004 |
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TIME FOR RECONCILIATION
With
half its members still purring over conquering power, and the other half
still numb because of the loss of it, the governing federal Liberal Party is
risking self-destruction without even feeling it.
This week Parliament reconvenes with a completely different makeup.
There's a new Prime Minister, a new government, and a new opposition. The
only left over from the previous Parliament is the Bloc Québécois, a
political organization that became obsolete and irrelevant a long time ago.
Over the next few months, some political leaders will have their careers
either strengthened or destroyed; however, the only political organization
that has a lot to lose is the governing Liberal Party.
While the NDP and the new Conservative Party are still "under construction,"
and looking at victory merely as an opportunity, the Liberal Party has no
choice: it has to win the next election or precipitate into a civil war that
might destroy the entire organization.
Over the last decade, the Grits enjoyed the best environment a political
organization could hope for and that was the opportunity to rejuvenate while
in power.
Usually political parties have the chance to reorganize only after crushing
defeats. But without any opposition in sight, compliments of Preston
Manning, the Liberals had the opportunity to foster their longevity at the
top and, at the same time, go through the necessary changes that any
organization needs, to stay in tune with the changing times.
Unfortunately, under the previous leadership of Jean Chrétien, and the
people around him, they did not understand that personal political longevity
doesn't agree with the longevity of the organization. Mr. Chrétien, and many
of the people around him, never closed the files that started with the 1990
leadership convention. They created divisiveness amongst their members and
fostered their political longevity by borrowing heavily from the future of
the Liberal Party. Thanks mainly to events not related to their ability,
they stalled the rejuvenation of the organization, discouraged ingenuity and
promoted mediocrity. They could do no wrong: with the economy booming and
without opposition in sight, they had no interest in promoting new people,
new ideas; in fact, whoever was daring to think independently, was forced
soon to run for cover.
Things have now changed. Can the Liberal Party win a fourth majority? Of
course it can, as long as the new leaders start the reconciliation plan
before going to the polls. In fact, Liberal unity is a condition for victory
in the next election.
Unfortunately, it's hard to rely on empty polls that measure the strength of
the Liberal Party against organizations that do not exist at the present
time. Some believe a victory is a fait-accompli and they count, once again,
on the inability of the opposition to get their act together and deliver to
them, on a silver plate, another majority. It's a dangerous assumption.
Paul Martin and the people around him are still too concerned with giving
the government a new look and with getting rid of all the people that could
remind the electorate of the previous government. They're also too concerned
with getting even with them.
Moreover, it is a dangerous assumption to make: the electorate, and
specifically the Liberal electorate, is not looking for new faces. Martin
himself is not a new kid in town. Liberals are looking for a new attitude
and they want a clear sign of reconciliation from within. Once this happens,
then they will be motivated to go to the election.
But most of the people around Paul Martin feel abused by the previous regime
and for years they've been forced to lay low and resort to a bloody warfare
in order to get to where they are now. They have proven themselves to be
good at waging warfare. But now it's time for them to snap out of that mode.
They still have to prove themselves capable of winning a war. In fact, a
party leadership can be compared to a guerrilla war while a federal election
can be compared to a conventional war.
I understand that the redistribution of ridings has a lot to do with the
present turmoil, and the change of leadership has some effect on many
nominations. I believe Martin and his people would like to have a smooth
transition and they are not looking for those fights. However, what's
missing is a clear sign of reconciliation with many Liberals that were
against them or, worse, were perceived to be. The bunker mentality helps
when you're on the opposition. But when you're in government you need to
reach out. I believe a new administration needs some changes and trimming,
however, when cutting a branch, you have to be sure you're sitting on the
right side. |
