Politics: Quebec: LeDevoir's Jean-Louis Bourque says only return of Bernard Landry will stave off PQ's disaster

Today refWrite must brazenly attempt to translate a bit of an article from Monday, July 18 eidtion of the Montréal French daily LeDevoir wherein the author, Jean-Louis Bourque, a political scientist no less, lays out his claim at length that former Leader of the provinical separatist party, le Parti Québecois (PQ), Monsieur Bernard Landry, must be recalled to party leadership - if the PQ wants to avoid disaster and ever resume government in the province. The Province of Québec is presently governed by the provinical Liberal Party under the leadership of Jean Charest, who has a multitude of his own difficulties.

Bourque insists that only Landry among the candidates who have announced themselves to replace him after his resignation in early June, has any credibility and competence worth even talking about. Bourque does not so much attack the would-bes, but he does not mince words in describing with alacrity Landry's qualifications. In my translation with the help of Systran via the Sherlock app on my iMac's OSX Panther (3.9) and three years of French on hi school, two years in college, decades ago, here we go:

The PQ matured since the last referendum, it has much more wisdom and perspicacity than it had ten years ago. It must again seize the day, reflect seriously, and choose the best chief in all regards; and this chief is none other than Bernard Landry. He travelled much, he studied abroad, he speaks several languages, he knows history well, he has competences in economy and in finance public, he knows Canada's federal-provincial relations well, along with international relations. He is a man who is ethically and morally aware, being above any suspicion; he can express himself very well, and is capable of persuasively convincing others regarding his viewpoint, he will be able to gain our confidence and to represent us well in the negotiations to come at the time of the next referendum.

Obviously, Bourque is himself a separatist, or as in Québec, such people prefer to call themselves "un souvereinist." a sovereignist. In choosing Landry to return to leadership of the party, Bourque enunciates a political vision charged-almost with religious fervour in its vividness.

The "militant" Bernard Landry, despite each of his defects and his often difficult petty nitpicking, is the right man for the job and certainly the man more qualified, most qualified and more tested to lead Quebec to our independence and to represent us with honor and dignity on the international scene. He must become the next elected chief of the PQ, next the Prime Minister for Quebec and the first Head of the Québécois State. For this, he has the statute, the fabric, the class and the scale necessary. He can and must thus become the first president of the Republic of Quebec: there is his destiny, already fully prepared.

With regard to the other candidates, they should be realistic, show more modesty and reserve, and finally understand that, despite every one of their beautiful qualities and their invaluable experiments, they quite simply do not make quite the weight, they are not at present -- and in any respect -- they have not weathered the vicissitudes of the long wait thru which Landry has seasoned himself and they don't have the requirements of the station, with all that that includes/understands and implies.

Bernard Landry, we necessarily must deeply acknowledge and recognize, is at present the best and probably the only candidate able to lead the Québécois people to our independence and to build with the entire people this new country of Quebec, until we wait with as much enthusiasm (rather than mere impatience), for finally being able to become Masters on our premises and to make the conditions thru which the Québécois people can express the plenitude of our foremost identity and, in all legitimacy, to make that national idenity's voice heard in the concert of the nations.

If you read French, you may want to check out this fine blog of Jacques Hamel, La sphère des idées de J. H. for possible comentary on the Bourque piece or on any subsequent discussion it may stir up. If you don't read French, or if you do, you may want to check out this great bilingual blog of , Blogue de Polyscopique: 100% pur boeuf canadien for its take on the Bourque push for re-installing Landry to lead the nation to the promised land. - Owlb