Island politics getting weirder by the day

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

There's some minor focus on PEI politics from off-Island as there will be a referendum on PR rather than FPTP at the same time as the next Provincial election (due next year), which seems to be tilting towards PR.

However, what's going on with the political parties is very strange.
Firstly, the Green Party now has 2 Provincial MPs (we call them MLAs) having won a by-election, a higher proportion than anywhere else in Canada, and has just topped the polls as the most popular party. Their leader is also the preferred choice of the polls for Premier.
Second, support for the Governing Liberals is dropping despite the budget being in surplus for the first time in goodness knows how long and tax cuts being chucked around like candy. One MLA has gone independent and 20% of the remainder have already said they are not standing at the next election. Has to be said though that the Government's two major recent initiatives, reducing numbers of schools and amalgamating local councils, have both run into such vocal opposition that the schools closures were scrapped by the Premier despite all his bought committees recommending them, and the same is about to happen with the amalgamations.
You'd think the Conservatives would be on them like a wolf on a wounded sheep, but the Conservative leader stated earlier this year that he thought political parties were unnecessary. He's just stood down due to the drop in the polls (from which the Green party benefited), yet all of the other 7 Conservative MLAs have just stated they won't be running for leader either, and neither will the previous leader who lost his seat at the last election.
The NDP (socialists) don't even have a seat in the Assembly.

I cannot recall anything like this, anywhere, ever.

And it's not due to disinterest in politics by the population - in fact PEI has the highest turnout in all of Canada, over 80%, in both Provincial and National elections.

Any politically aware types heard of anything like this before?
Party politics seems to be dying, just when it's getting more entrenched everywhere else.

[Alisoncc]

Party politics seems to be dying, just when it's getting more entrenched everywhere else.

Entrenched elsewhere - I think not. Current lead article on the ABC's news website today 20th Sept.

Party’s over: In a nation of cynics, we’re flocking to the fringe.

Poll after poll shows satisfaction with the political system has plunged to unprecedented lows, in a nation not exactly known for its patriotic fervour.

And while Australians may pride themselves on being a cynical bunch, new research has revealed deep divisions between those content with the status quo and a growing underbelly for whom Australian democracy is quickly losing its shine.

Delving into the differences between more than 20 demographic groups, the research from the Museum of Australian Democracy and University of Canberra found distrust and disillusionment surpassed 80 per cent among some communities, while in others, more than 60 per cent remained happy with the current system.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-20/i ... e/10281522

Alison

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Thank you, interesting.
What I am particularly keen to know is whether the politicians elsewhere are giving up on their parties, rather than just the voters losing faith in parties. By entrenched I meant the politicians are digging in, not the voters. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[Alisoncc]

Fox, our politicians are changing leaders at some incredible rate, and if in government, with each new leader a new prime minister. The present mob, Liberal/Nationals, have changed their leader three times since the the last election. And the previous mob in government, Labor, were no different, also changing leaders regularly.

Lose count of how many PMs we've had in the last ten years. Possibly seven or eight. Don't think a single one of them has had any leadership qualities as such. Very few important decisions are being made, as each "leader" calls for a committee of some sort to look into it, which puts everything off for years. Then they ignore the committees deliberations and conclusions. The most important decision made in years here was that relating to same sex marriage, for f*cks sake.

Suspect the cynicism amongst the general public here emanates from a party leader making all sorts of promises before an election, and then the party selects a new leader once elected who then disavows all promises made by their predecessor. The parties, themselves seem to be in total disarray with massive in-fighting, with damaging revelations being leaked by all and sundry. If a "Trump" were to stand at our next election, suspect he would get elected no probs, with or without a party backing. 'Cept it can't happen under our system.

Alison

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Thank you.
Are there any decent MPs who might be potentially good leaders; and if there are, are they trying to become leader (but failing), or are they avoiding leadership as a tainted thing?