Left lumps together

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by Patrick Lejtenyi

Voters looking for good old-fashioned lefties to voice their indignation at globalization, neo-liberalism, declining social services, widening income gaps, the environment, lack of social housing and so on may be in for a treat come next provincial elections: the flagship parties of the left, including the communists (PCQ), democratic socialists (PDS) and progressive alternativists (RAP) have decided to unite under one umbrella coalition with the avowed intention of "bringing democracy back to the people." The recently formed Union des Forces Progressistes (UFP) announced at a Labour Day press conference they would be fielding candidates in three provincial by-elections October 1, signalling a movement they hope will bring the left out of the electoral wasteland.

"We have come to realize two things," says Monique Moisan, a PDS national executive councilwoman. "First, the parties of the left have been shown to be very weak. Second, we all share common objectives."

Because of Quebec's strict electoral laws, which does not allow coalition parties, the UFP has a number of hurdles to overcome before it becomes an official political party. Lawyers are working on negotiations with Quebec Elections officials to resolve this before the next provincial general elections. But in the meantime, UFP members have agreed to play nice with each other.

"Many of our members have been active for over 20 years," Moisan says. "They've experienced the squabbles [that fatally divided the left] and won't make the same mistake this time around."