Quebec 2014 - another election that never was

[DC Al Fine]

Damn, I thought an election had actually been called

[DC Al Fine]

Any progress for QS likely?

QS is polling a few points above their previous result. They might pick up another seat in Sainte Marie-Saint Jacques where they came 10% behind the PQ last time.

[DC Al Fine]

Forgive me for being a dullard when it comes to Parliamentary politics, but why did the CAQ and Liberals not form a coalition? It seems like the PQ would be deep in the minority just based on number of seats...

Well normally the result under our system is a majority government so politicians are less willing to form coalitions. Why join a coalition for 4 years when you can force an election tomorrow and win government for yourself?

[DC Al Fine]

You only need to look at the UK to see why coalitions are a bad idea in westminster systems. Bad for the minority coalition party anyways.

But is that because of the Westminster system or because of gross incompetence on the part of the junior partner in the current British government? Though it's certainly true that the Westminster system wasn't designed with coalitions in mind.

I think much of it was because a fair swag of the junior party's supporters weren't expecting a coalition with the Tories.

People didn't get that the Liberals aren't "Diet Labour".

Someone put it like this a while back:

The Lib Dems vote in 2010 was an even split between 3 groups

• Lefties upset with New Labour
• Protest votes
• Liberals

By forming a coalition with the Tories, the Lib Dems effectively alienated the first two groups.