As political bombshells go, this one is likely to give some new meaning to the expression.
The surprise announcement by Premier Ed Stelmach made yesterday that he would be stepping down after the spring session of the legislature came as shock to both PC Party stalwarts and opposition foes alike, along with several million Albertans.
In a personal blog on the Government of Alberta website, Premier Stelmach touched on an explanation for his decision to resign after more that a quarter century of public service, and warned of the danger presented by the far right.
“I have always put my family, my constituents, my province and my party ahead of myself. So I say to you this as directly as I can. There is a profound danger that the next election campaign will focus on personality and U.S. style negative, attack politics that is directed at me personally. The danger is that it could allow for an extreme right party to disguise itself as a moderate party by focussing on personality — on me personally. This type of U.S. style wedge politics is coming into Canada, and it comes at our peril.”
The next step will be a leadership conference for the PC Party to select a new leader to take over as premier.
Stelmach has spent 25 years in public service, and has been Alberta’s premier since 2006. In 2008, he won a massive majority, as the Conservatives captured 72 of a possible 83 seats.
As for the future of the party, Stelmach has not provided a letter of resignation, and will continue to serve as leader until that time.
When the next election could happen is also up in the air.
“My successor will be under no obligation to go to the polls in March of 2012,” Stelmach said on his blog. “That was my timetable and mine alone. My successor has the parliamentary authority to call an election anytime up to the constitutional deadline of March of 2013.”
Stelmach is the leader of the Conservatives, and the premier, until he submits his resignation. He added in due course, a full, fair and transparent leadership race will be held to select a successor.