Jean refuses to abandon candidacy
YEREVAN, ARMENIA • Delegations from Canada and Quebec arrived in Armenia Wednesday ahead of the summit of la Francophonie, intent on putting the controversy over the election of a secretary general behind them.
But Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general and current holder of the top job at the international body, showed no signs of abandoning her candidacy despite losing the support of her home country and province.
Jean, who has been secretary general of the organization of French-speaking nations since 2014, is seeking a second term and will be up against Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo when members make their choice this week.
The Canadian and Quebec governments announced Tuesday they were withdrawing support for Jean’s bid to remain in the job, backing instead the “consensus” candidate, Mushikiwabo.
But Jean does not seem to believe her fate is sealed, suggesting through a spokesman on the eve of the twoday summit in the Armenian capital of Yerevan that no consensus yet exists.
“A consensus implies a debate that is held according to the standards,” Jean spokesman Bertin Leblanc said. “With the summit beginning (Thursday), no doubt this discussion will take place among the heads of state and of governments behind closed doors.”
Leblanc had said on the weekend that Jean had no intention of dropping out.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who travelled to Yerevan with Quebec premierdesignate François Legault, met with Jean soon after landing Wednesday.
Trudeau’s office did not tell the media about the meeting beforehand and would not say what was discussed. But a government source said the message has not changed: Ottawa will join the consensus that emerges from the summit.
Several federal government sources recently told The Canadian Press the reelection of Jean, who was chosen in 2014 in part due to the absence of a consensus African candidate, would be “difficult.” They said Canada would join a consensus if there were one to avoid having the summit overshadowed by a fight for the top job.
Traditionally, the selection of a secretary general is by consensus, not through a vote.
Mushikiwabo has support from France and the African Union countries, leaving Jean’s chances of retaining the job slim.