As the Liberal Party searches for new leadership, former Prime Minister Jean Chretien says it is time for the party to return to a “radical centrist” path to help its electoral fortunes.
“As I’ve said before, the basic condition is for the party to return to a radical centrist position, because that’s what the Liberal Party has always been,” Chretien said in an exclusive interview on Sunday’s CTV Question Period.
After months of political turmoil and pressure to expel him from his party’s caucus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he will step down as party leader once a replacement is named. The party announced that a new leader will be elected on March 9th.
For more than two years, the Liberals had a supply trust agreement with the NDP, in which the NDP supported the Liberals in exchange for progress on shared priorities. Under the deal, which ended last summer, policies such as dental and pharmaceutical care were advanced, pushing the Liberal Party further to the left.
But since Prime Minister Trudeau announced his resignation, some Liberal MPs have publicly said they want the party to move further into the political center.
“It’s very important to elect someone who is centrist, who understands the needs of Canadians and who will put Canadians first,” Ontario MP Judy Sgro told reporters Wednesday ahead of her caucus. “It’s important,” he said.
“As we move forward, I think Canadians want us to continue to consider ways to support their priorities while being fiscally responsible,” Ontario MP Charles Sousa said Wednesday. ” he said. “I am very committed to continuing to focus on the economy.”
“I think the party will get back there again, I’m sure,” Chretien said when asked by host Vassy Kapelos about those views.
For more than a year, the Liberal Party has trailed the Conservative Party in opinion polls. The latest figures released by Nanos Research on January 7 show the Conservatives leading the Liberals by 22 points, at 45% and 23% respectively.
In response to these numbers, the new Liberal leadership could face a general election soon, with opposition parties threatening to move to overthrow the Liberal government as soon as the House of Commons reconvenes on March 24.
Asked whether the party’s new leadership would be able to overcome the deficit in the short term, Chretien said: “Things can change quickly.”
Speaking to Kapellos, Chretien referred to the party’s 1993 victory over incumbent Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Kim Campbell, which saw the PCs’ seats reduced from 156 to just two.
“[Campbell]became prime minister. She was 10 to 15 points ahead of me,” Chretien continued, adding, “She ran against me and, as you know… she lost her seat. It ended with just two seats, and all this happened in six months.
Chretien said Trudeau’s decision was “his prerogative.”
Mr. Chretien served as prime minister for 10 years and experienced similar political pressures as Mr. Trudeau near the end of his term. Having lost the support of a majority of his caucus and internal conflict with Finance Minister Paul Martin, Chretien announced in August 2002 that he would resign in February 2004, but his position proved untenable. He eventually resigned in December 2003, handing over power to Martin.
Asked whether Trudeau took too long to resign, Chretien said it was “his prerogative” to decide when to step down.
“He could have stayed. Of course he faced some turmoil. That happens all the time. That’s how it is in politics,” Chretien said.
Despite the recent turmoil, Chretien praised Trudeau’s time as prime minister as “well served.”
“He was great for the Liberal Party. He took us to third place and won the election for us,” Chretien said. “He did what no one else could have done. “Normally, minority governments never survive much longer,” he added. Two and a half years have passed, and I’m now in my fourth year. ”
Catch an exclusive interview with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien on CTV’s Question Period this Sunday at 11pm/8pm.
