Must we like the people we elect?

A reflection on political popularity

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Charisma without substance is a dangerous thing.
--Kim Campbell, Canada’s first and only female prime minister.

Justin Trudeau's popularity won him power in 2015. The popularity Trudeau enjoyed has steadily declined and has vastly dissipated. In the last couple of months, a strong wave of unpopularity has forced the PM to begin grappling with his political future. As of March 2024, Trudeau's endorsement, according to the most recent Abacus survey, is at an all-time low of 24%, a sharp fall from his impressive 63% approval rating during his initial year in office.

Democracy rests on consent – an idea that at its most basic level says we choose leaders by voting for the ones we like. But it is always a tenuous proposition. The PM's dive in popularity illustrates the erratic nature of being popular in liberal democracies. In an activity where popularity is key, there is room to ask if people need to like the politicians they elect. 

So populari…