Canada, Quebec drop support for Jean
OTTAWA — The Canadian and Quebec governments announced Tuesday they are pulling their support for former governor general Michaëlle Jean to remain atop the international organization of French-speaking nations, backing instead the “consensus” candidate from Africa.
Jean — who has held the top position since 2014 — will be up against Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo when members choose a new secretary general at la Francophonie’s summit in Armenia Thursday and Friday.
The ex-governor general was considered a long shot to keep her position after France and the African Union publicly backed Mushikiwabo.
Quebec premier-designate François Legault tweeted Tuesday that his government would not support Jean and would join what he called the “African consensus.”
Hours before he was scheduled to board Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plane for the summit, Legault released a written statement saying: “Africa has enormous potential, both for our economy and for the future of the French language. That is why I intend to support a candidacy from this continent.”
A spokesman for the federal minister responsible for la Francophonie, Mélanie Joly, said in an email Tuesday that Canada would also support the “consensus” candidate.
Canada is ready to “rally around the consensus, which is the way la Francophonie wants to go about it,” wrote Jérémy Ghio.
Jean did not immediately react to the statements by Canada and Quebec.
Her spokesman, Bertin Leblanc, told the Canadian Press Monday that she wasn’t planning on giving up.
“I’ll confirm she’ll be there until the end and probably beyond,” Leblanc said.
Jean has been dogged by accusations of excessive spending during her time as head of la Francophonie. Québecor media outlets reported she spent $500,000 renovating her rented Paris residence, as well as $20,000 on a piano.