JUSIPER

 
The nail in the coffin

Posted by Sini

Why Harper's number is up. It's not that the Naderite NDP finally stopped playing footsie with the right. Together they didn't have the votes to take over. In the end the BQ was dispositive:

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said his party is ready to support the coalition because the Conservatives chose partisan games based on ideological beliefs instead of considering the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.

"Since last Friday, the Conservatives have retreated on some points, but nothing could restore the trust that was broken by Stephen Harper," Duceppe said.

"In front of the urgency to act on the economic crisis, we started negotiations with the other opposition parties. Each one showed openness and a willingness to make compromises, which allowed us to reach an agreement."

A wildcard: Harper could "prorogue" Parliament for a month, forcing the Governor General to decide between dismissing his government outright or waiting till Parliament's reconvening in January.

A second wildcard: Harper could ask for new elections following the no confidence vote. But the governor general is unlikely to accept given the existence of a viable coalition.

Finally, Dion only gets six months as PM, until the Liberals' leadership election in May.

11:03 PM |