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François Legault managed to maintain his cool, Dominique Anglade might have made inroads within the enterprise of changing into identified to Quebecers, and Éric Duhaime got here beneath intense fireplace for tapping into anger over COVID-19 well being measures.

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In a heated and fast-paced debate Thursday — one which was marred no less than at the beginning by everybody talking on the identical time — Quebec’s 5 major political leaders traded barbs for simply over two hours at what’s now the halfway level of the election.

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Not one of the 5 leaders dropped the ball in such a method as their campaigns will discover themselves in hassle, but it surely’s unclear if anybody acquired an actual enhance off the train, which was sponsored by the TVA community.

That may be a explicit drawback as a result of the 4 opposition events — Liberals, Québec solidaire, Conservative Social gathering and Parti Québécois — have but to seek out the appropriate components to drive up opposition to the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec, which nonetheless has an enormous lead within the polls.

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As many predicted, Legault, the incumbent premier and chief of the CAQ, was on the defensive — on his left and proper flank — a lot of the night, however that was anticipated given his 4 years in workplace together with the controversial time managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Arriving for the controversy, he conceded to reporters that he was harassed.

However whereas the leaders tried to push his buttons, he managed his mood, showing to be at his greatest trash-talking Duhaime, who has tapped into anger over well being measures.

“I didn’t go into politics to shut shops and impose masks,” Legault mentioned in blasting Duhaime, chief of the Conservative Social gathering of Quebec. “I did this to save lots of lives. You shot a gap within the rowboat. It was irresponsible.”

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Legault was requested after the controversy why he was no more combative. Some analysts mentioned his efficiency was sufficient however not flashy.

“With 5 individuals, this debate was not a easy matter,” Legault instructed reporters later.

However, he had some odd remarks. In a brief dialogue on the problem of systemic racism — which Legault doesn’t acknowledge — he insisted the issue on the Joliette hospital had been solved.

And in an alternate with Liberal Chief Anglade, Legault mentioned her get together “has misplaced the monopoly over being against sovereignty,” and that explains its lacklustre standing with Quebecers.

“The Liberal Social gathering doesn’t have a purpose to exist anymore,” Legault mentioned later answering a query from the Montreal Gazette.

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He additionally appeared to relish honing in on Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who at occasions appeared greatly surprised by Legault’s assaults, notably in opposition to the QS plan to take the ultra-rich and slap new tariffs on gas-burning SUVs.

Nadeau-Dubois, nonetheless, was fast on his ft, taking up Duhaime’s plan to deliver again oil growth in Quebec. His greatest line was saying perhaps Duhaime can be extra comfy working for Texas governor.

“I’ll by no means insult you and recommend that you just run in Cuba,” Duhaime fired again.

Duhaime, nonetheless, gave no quarter, attacking Legault over the well being measures and Anglade over her get together’s dealing with of Invoice 96 overhauling the Constitution of the French Language.

He made the weird transfer of switching to English, in the course of an all-French debate.

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“You betrayed English-Quebecers on that invoice,” Duhaime shot at Anglade, who later brushed the comment apart saying Duhaime adjustments his view on Invoice 96 each hour.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the chief of the Parti Québécois, was remarkably poised and calm in his first huge debate and needled Legault for not going additional to guard French. He known as Invoice 96 “a half measure.”

“You failed to guard French,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned at one level.

It was the primary time in Quebec historical past that there have been 5 candidates opposing one another in a debate. Generally turning factors in marketing campaign however not at all times, for some Quebecers it’s the first time they see a frontrunner shut up and beneath stress.

With 34 per cent of Quebecers saying they might change their vote because of what they noticed within the debate, that made the stakes excessive as a result of there may be much less time left to make an excellent impression on the undecideds.

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Completely different individuals take away various things from debates. It’s only actually in subsequent polls that you just actually get a really feel on whether or not it helped or hindered a candidate.

Whereas a Léger ballot Thursday exhibits the CAQ is holding on to its lead and appears destined to win the election, numerous regional races have turn out to be heated together with the one in Montreal. With the ballot exhibiting the CAQ going nowhere in Montreal, a ferocious battle is underway between the Liberals and QS.

However, the Liberals are in hassle within the Laval area, the place they at the moment maintain 5 out of the six areas.

The Conservatives are additionally in good place within the Quebec Metropolis area, notably within the Beauce and Chaudière-Appalaches areas.

It was the primary of two televised leaders’ debates. The subsequent one, sponsored by Radio-Canada, is Thursday, Sept. 22. There had been plans for an English debate — one was held in 2018 — but it surely was scrapped after two of the events, the CAQ and PQ, refused to play ball.

pauthier@postmedia.com

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