Who Replaces Trudeau?

 

As Justin Trudeau’s popularity plunges, people begin to talk about his possible successor as leader of the Liberal Party.

Chrystia Freeland is his second in command. But she is too closely identified with him: if his popularity goes down, hers does too. 

The rest of the cabinet does not look much better. The problem is that Trudeau has been relying on a personality cult, and no cabinet ministers have been able to develop a strong independent identity or following. 

Mark Carnet is mentioned. But he looks too much like Michael Ignatieff, vulnerable to charges of being a carpetbagger; and with untested political skills.

There is no obvious candidate that nobody seems to be mentioning: Jody Wilson-Raybould. This actually follows the typical Liberal tradition: a former cabinet minister who has resigned over disagreements with the leader comes back from retirement to take over. So Jean Chretien, John Turner, Paul Martin.

Raybould has earned a reputation for strict honesty and respect for the rules, which would be the antidote for the odour of corruption and overreach left by Trudeau.

She has remained loyal to the party: ejected, she ran not as an NDP or Green candidate, although she had offers. They would have killed to have her. She took the harder path of running as an independent.

Why do the mainstream media not mention her?

It seems sinister.