THE BEAUTY OF A POLITICIAN

THE BEAUTY OF A POLITICIAN- 

By Bernard Bujold-

The beauty of a politician is in the grandeur of his election campaign, but the management of government is always more traditional. 

I lived through Brian Mulroney's 1984 campaign as an organizer, and have watched Donald Trump's since 2016 from a distance. We can definitely compare the political platforms of Brian Mulroney in 1984 and Donald Trump in 2024, as they share many similarities in their approach to government management. Mulroney said he was going to run Canada like he did the Iron Ore mining company. Donald Trump says he'll run the U.S. like he did his real estate empire. Both men have been trained in the concepts and strategies of negotiation, one in real estate, the other in labor relations. 

Approach to government management: Brian Mulroney, elected in 1984 with 211 of 282 MLAs, brought a private-sector-inspired vision of government management. He created the Ministry of State for Privatization and Regulatory Affairs in 1986. His government privatized 9 of the 67 existing Crown corporations. Mulroney aimed to reduce the size and intervention of the state in the economy. Donald Trump, for his presidency in 2025, is also proposing an approach focused on efficiency and downsizing the state. He plans to “make federal bureaucrats more accountable” and he wants to “reduce the growth of public spending”.His program aims to “dismantle the administrative state”. 

Differences in context and approach: Despite these broad similarities, there are differences as Mulroney governed in the 1980s, a period marked by the neoliberalism of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, whereas Trump, in 2025, is operating in a post-pandemic context of heightened global geopolitical tensions. There is also the extent of reforms as Mulroney carried out a more discreet and less extensive privatization than he had announced during the election campaign. Trump, on the other hand, proposed more radical and explicit changes, which he is openly displaying even after his election. 

Rhetoric: Mulroney presented his reforms as aimed at fighting poverty more effectively. Trump adopts a more combative tone, speaking of “dismantling the administrative state”. 

Specific priorities: Trump emphasizes issues such as immigration and border security, themes less present in Mulroney's program. 

In the end, we can conclude that history and the style of politicians repeat themselves! And let's not forget that the art of negotiation is the art of adapting to the situation... In 1984, Brian Mulroney had to back down on his political agenda and adapt! In my opinion, Donald Trump will be doing the same thing in 2025. And if nothing else, politics is like the seasons. Spring is the next season after winter... 

To be continued...