…as could be expected, all things considered. OK, sure, it destroys the Green’s PR image, and tarnishes the Liberal’s one-truly-national-party reputation, but there you go:

Grits and Greens make a deal

Liberals won’t run candidate against Elizabeth May; she reciprocates for Dion, touts him as best PM
Apr 12, 2007 06:00 PM
Canadian Press
OTTAWA – Stephane Dion has decided not to run a Liberal candidate against Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the next federal election.

Dion, who shares May’s environmental idealism, is expected to make the announcement Friday. In return, sources say that May will promise not to run a Green candidate against the Liberal leader and will essentially endorse Dion for prime minister.

The extraordinary back-scratching between two supposedly rival leaders is unheard of in Canadian politics and could generate a backlash within both parties.

You think?

And what happens if there’s not an election until spring 2008? Can the parties survive a year’s worth of bitterness and recriminations?