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Quebec Separatist Leader ResignsQUEBEC, May 8 — The leader of the separatist Parti Québécois, André Boisclair, resigned today, further destabilizing a sovereignty movement that was left in shambles after a third-place finish in provincial elections in March. Mr. Boisclair made the announcement at a hastily called news conference in the National Assembly on the first day of the new government. I would have loved to be the leader of the party, Mr. Boisclair said. Its not possible for me. Somebody else will have to do it. The Parti Québécois was poised to have a strong showing in the March elections, with some even predicting a win for the separatists. But instead they had their worst showing in decades. The federalist Liberal Party were re-elected with a minority government and the upstart Action Démocratique de Québec party surprised political observers by finishing second in the vote, gaining support with a proposal by the partys leader, Mario Dumont, for greater autonomy for Quebec but within a united Canada. Polls show strong support for sovereignty among Quebec voters, so the poor results for Parti Québécois were seen to reflect the lack of faith in Mr. Boisclair, 41, to lead the push for a third referendum on independence. Two previous votes, in 1980 and 1995, failed. When he was elected leader of the Parti Québécois in November 2005, Mr. Boisclair made headlines for being gay and admitting to using cocaine while serving as a cabinet minister. His relative youth also marked a stark departure from previous leaders in the separatist party, most of whom traced their roots to its founding in the late-1960s. Mr. Boisclair fought back tears at the news conference announcing his resignation. He said the sovereignty movement would rebound. Im deeply convinced that this brave nation will assume its freedom, he said. Rumors persist that the leader of the party Bloc Québécois, which advocates Quebec sovereignty in federal politics in Ottawa, will quit his post to become leader of the Parti Québécois. Political analysts said the party could not afford a slow rebuilding process following Mr. Boisclairs resignation, predicting another poor election result would permanently cripple the party. They are not in a position for a long-term fix, said Pierre Martin, a political scientist at the Université de Montréal. They have to present a strong option in the next election. If they dont, then they somehow fade into insignificance, maybe forever. Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationYouth Groups Created by Kremlin Serve Putin’s Cause...Frozen moose rescued by chainsaw gang... U.S. Struggles to Tutor Iraqis in Rule of Law... Democrats Newly Willing to Compromise on Iraq... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Quebec Separatist Leader Resigns |
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