The PQ's Stéphane Bergeron Is Upset With Being Quoted

The recent PQ defections have left some of their caucus members disillusioned with the party and apparently, with reality.

Antoine Robitaille's story in Le Devoir revealed an email by MNA Stéphane Bergeron to a sovereignist militant. The member for Verchères expressed dissatisfaction with PQ leader Pauline Marois. However, in a following press release, he profoundly disagrees with the literal interpretation of his email. For example (my translations):

"The five MNAs that resigned dealt a blow that seriously undermined Pauline Marois's prestige and credibility to carry out our sovereignty project." -Private email version of Stéphane Bergeron

"I believe that Pauline Marois has the will, courage and determination to lead the Parti Québécois. She is the person we need to establish a relationship of trust with the people of Québec, offer a reliable and honest government and most importantly, carry out the sovereignty project." -Press release version of Stéphane Bergeron

(Hello, IT guy? Is there
an "unsend email" button?)

This isn't a "private-email-that-was-written-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-which-includes-regrettable-statements-I-didn't-really-mean" type of backtrack. Oh no! This is the full "this-journalist-is-delirious" type of backtrack! He's "indignant" that people could reach the conclusion that he isn't anything but 100% behind his leader and his party! And yet...

"Imagine the extraordinary hope that would be generated from the appearance, on the Québec political scene, of a progressive and sovereignist coalition... This contrasts with the prevailing gloom and cynicism." -Private email version of Stéphane Bergeron

"Despite the events that have shaken our party, I intend to fight alongside Pauline Marois and all my colleagues in the caucus of the Parti Québécois to continue our hard work to regain the confidence of Quebecers and recommit Québec on the way to full emancipation." -Press release version of Stéphane Bergeron

Stéphane Bergeron is upset because his email was a "call for unity message" which "the journalist mutated into a germ to spread division within the ranks". He takes specific objection with Robitaille's use of the word "inapte" (unsuited) for describing Marois's ability to lead Quebec to sovereignty. It's a weak "call for unity" when you acknowledge that your party leader has had her credibility and prestige undermined. Also, this "call for unity" within the PQ looks less than solid when you look favourably upon a coalition of various progressive sovereignist political parties when, historically, the PQ had the monopoly on the sovereignist vote. His excuse smacks of double talk when he suggests that the PQ is the coalition he was referring to. Strange that this "PQ coalition" has yet to make its appearance on the political scene according to Bergeron.

Honestly, how hard would it have been for him to admit that his pessimism during the various defections led him to express sentiments he now regrets?