[R-G] Amir Khadir, "the first (and only) member of the National Assembly for Québec solidaire"

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/pierre-beaudet/new-perspectives-qu%C3%A9bec-solidaire>
New perspectives for Québec solidaire
By Pierre Beaudet
December 9, 2008

The election of Amir Khadir in the Mercier downtown district of
Montreal did not come about as a surprise nor as a gift. The victory
comes after three previous attempts since the late 1990s.

Indeed Mercier is a 'natural' place for the left since it integrates
very popular neighborhoods with middle classes mixed between various
nationalities and ethnicities. It's also a site of historical
struggles around housing, community rights, feminist and trade union
struggles, that is, when they were factories (they are all gone now).

Back in the 1970s by the way, one of the most progressive PQ leader
and poet, Gerald Godin, was elected right there after defeating no one
else than the Liberal Prime Minister of the time, Robert Bourassa.
Later, Mercier was also the incubator of left-oriented urban politics
with the RCM who ran against the local establishment. Last but not
least, Mercier was the stronghold of the radical left, also in the
1970s, who organized several «comités d'action politique» that rock
the boat in social movements.

By the way, Mercier is adjacent from the Parc Extension area where
Fred Rose became the one and only Communist to be elected in the House
of commons, back in 1948

Amir becomes the first (and only) member of the National Assembly for
Québec solidaire. His co-spokesperson, Françoise David, the former
President of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, came second in
another popular neighborhood, with over 30% of the popular vote.

All in all, QS has almost doubled its vote since the last general
election (2003), leaving far behind the Green Party. For sure with a
voice in the Assembly, it will be able to speak louder. During this
electoral campaign, QS was cut out form mainstream media except for
the few odd interviews.

For the last year, QS has concentrated on two dimensions, its program
first and its local organization second. The program is
left-Keynesian, calling for a strong public sector, the
nationalization of a few selected sectors, higher social standards,
and additional political demands like the change of the electoral
system and the convening of a national constituent assembly that would
propose a process leading to sovereignty. The organizational part was
first to recruit about 5000 members and then to set up strong
structures in Mercier and a few other districts where the possibility
of winning was real.

Since its inception, QS has tried to reconcile itself as a political
party intervening on the political scene with the necessity to battle
with the people. Initially, the priority was the latter: the majority
saw the first challenge as becoming 'institutional' to a certain
extent, and not competing against the dynamic social movements.

Now I suppose the trend will be more balanced. Having a political
vehicle to intervene in the public political debates in necessary, but
certainly not sufficient. QS cannot be a substitute to social
movements, but it can be part and parcel of the 'war of position' that
is to be conducted in the Parliament and in the streets.

"Discours de victoire d'Amir Khadir pour Québec solidaire":
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNwHcuIW6rA>

"Point d'Amir":
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWsgl6MBaY8&feature=PlayList&p=C24A94EF33C70A7C&index=0&playnext=1>