PQ Leader Landry calls it quits

[Disgruntled70sHab]

For you guys living in Quebec, what does this mean? What is the impact?

PQ Leader Landry calls it quits
By LES PERREAUX

Parti Quebecois leader Bernard Landry waves to applauding supporters at the beginning of a PQ convention Friday in Quebec City. (CP/Jacques Boissinot)

QUEBEC (CP) - Bernard Landry, elected in 1976 with the first Parti Quebecois government, quit politics Saturday after earning the support of only 76.2 per cent of party delegates in a confidence vote.

PQ delegates gasped and dozens broke into tears as an emotional Landry haltingly broke the news he was leaving. "You will remember that at the beginning of my speech I saw we were activists, it's the title we have in common, and it's a beautiful title," Landry said in announcing his departure.

"But I want to tell you that from this moment, it's the only title I will have."

Landry then summed up the situation this way: "It breaks my heart to tell you this, but I'm doing it in the national interest. I'm sorry to do this."

Landry had said he would stay on with 76 per cent support, but supporters confirmed the PQ leader had privately set a minimum threshold of 80 per cent to remain at the helm.

what's the impact?

Cheers.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

A collective sigh of relief from Latina chambermaids.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

mrbozo said:

A collective sigh of relief from Latina chambermaids.

errrrrrr .....

[jkr]

mrbozo said:

A collective sigh of relief from Latina chambermaids.

please enlighten us.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Maybe I'll try another route. The Liberals aren't doing very well in Quebec. I didn't know who the PQ had waiting in the wings to replace Landry. I was wondering who the PQ will replace Landry with. I read earlier today that it could be Gilles Duceppe. If so, who will replace Duceppe? If not, who will replace Landry.

Does the PQ have an up-and-coming shining star? Does this mean a loss of votes for the PQ even in lieu of the Liberal track record?

cheers.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

mrbozo said:

A collective sigh of relief from Latina chambermaids.

disgruntled70shab said:

errrrrrr .....

jkr said:

please enlighten us.

Crisis of pro-capitalist Quebec leaders

Meanwhile, leaders of the pro-sovereignty movement are facing a credibility crisis of their own following a series of racist declarations by their principal spokespersons.

Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau announced his resignation October 31 following widespread denunciations of the speech he made the night of the referendum, in which he blamed "money and the ethnic vote" for the loss.

Two Montreal hotel workers of Latin American origin went public on November 2 with a complaint to the Quebec Human Rights Commission of verbal abuse they suffered at the hands of Deputy Premier Bernard Landry the night of the referendum loss. Landry entered the hotel late and began berating the two women, demanding to know how they had voted and castigating them for, in his opinion, speaking French poorly. According to another employee, Landry cursed "damned ethnics" as he left the scene.

"He's wrong," said Jean-Stéphane Vachon, an employee at the MacMillan Bathurst cardboard factory in Montreal, about Parizeau's comments. "Everyone has a right to vote they way they feel. The vote was lost because not enough people voted yes, that's all." Vachon pointed to several regions of Quebec where Quebecois make up the large majority of the population and where the vote went against sovereignty.

Others in the same factory thought otherwise. "Perhaps it wasn't very diplomatic," said one, "but he said what a lot of Quebecois feel in their hearts."

- www.themilitant.com/1995/5943/5943_25.html

*

Tuesday 1 September 1998

Landry targets 'ethnic' voters

MIKE KING, PHILIP AUTHIER, ELIZABETH THOMPSON and MICHAEL MAINVILLE

The Gazette

Deputy Premier Bernard Landry's latest take on the "ethnic vote," which some separatists blamed for snatching victory away in the October 1995 referendum, raised critics' ire yesterday.

"Oh, not again!" exclaimed Christos Sirros, Liberal electoral-reform and intercommunity-relations critic, who was astonished to hear of Landry's latest comments.

As a guest of a CKAC radio talk show yesterday morning, Landry was explaining to host Paul Arcand why he believes a 50-per-cent-plus-one vote should be enough to win separation in another referendum.

Landry also recalled that 90 per cent of members from cultural communities voted No in the referendum.

"Taking that into account, everyone knows that if we put the bar too high, it's like giving a veto right to our compatriots, brothers and sisters from cultural communities, on our national project," the deputy premier said.

"We can't do that."

Landry went on to say, "not in Jacques Parizeau's tone, but in the most fraternal way possible, that our compatriots from other cultures - Quebecers like you and me - have not yet been sufficiently convinced of the soundness of our cause."

- www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/4652/landry4.html

*

What a guy. Gone not a moment too soon.

Memo: Must do something about that damned ethnic diversity in Montréal (maybe parachute some Saguenéens into the West Island)—and the Anglos and the Jews with all that money (they're all millionaires, every last one)—get rid of them all and victory is assured.

[Doc Holliday]

disgruntled70shab said:

Maybe I'll try another route. The Liberals aren't doing very well in Quebec. I didn't know who the PQ had waiting in the wings to replace Landry. I was wondering who the PQ will replace Landry with. I read earlier today that it could be Gilles Duceppe. If so, who will replace Duceppe? If not, who will replace Landry.

Does the PQ have an up-and-coming shining star? Does this mean a loss of votes for the PQ even in lieu of the Liberal track record?

cheers.

Leaving corridore talks and old ladies's gossips aside, there are 3 possible replacements to Landry. Here are my take on them.

#1: Gilles Duceppe. Duceppe wanted to deliver one final, huge blow to the Liberals in the next Federal election by leading his party to a never seen before majority in Quebec. He wanted to crush the Liberals on his turf to keep the sovereign momentum going at which point he would have crossed to the provincial level... Landry took him by surprise. Duceppe is now torn between keeping his foot on the Liberal’s throat or taking the spot that he felt for sure was gonna be his someday... He's certainly the most popular face of all Landry's possible replacements but how he's seen from internally in the PQ remains a bit of a guess and upon his departure from the Bloc, that party will have to rebuild itself almost from the ground up. Pretty much like when Bouchard left. His crossing might hurt the sovereignists more than it will help them in the short term…

#2 Pauline Marois. An old warrior that's been there from the beginning. Marois has some strong internal support but she's the one that requested a leadership convention following the PQ's defeat to Charest. Many sees her as the reason why Landry had to step down so you can bet that a good deal of that 76% support that Landry received are not too happy with Pauline. Landry's surprise decision could deliver a fatal blow to Marois: I don't see here making it and I don't see her supporting another Chief either. With her and Landry gone the old guard will be done, as will be the recent internal quarrels.

#3 Francois Legault. He's the wild card. The one that many newly converted sovereignists see as The Men. He comes from the business world, he was Landry's Iron Men and he's the one that recently delivered the financial analysis of a sovereign Quebec. He's not as publicly known as the other 2 but benefits from a lot of credibility within the party. He's the future of the party IMO, but his time might not be now...

Landry did the right thing IMO. With big battles ahead for the sovereignists, that last thing you want is to have internal wars ripping your party apart at crucial moments. The PQ should chose and Interim Chief and postpone its leadership convention ‘till after the Federal election.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Thanks Doc.

I think the answer will formulate itself once Duceppe makes up his mind. He's only now moving out of Bouchard's shadow and that took time. He'll do well with the PQ, but does he have a successor in the Bloc? I think you're right insomuch as it might not be the time for him to leave.

What about Lise Beaudoin? I remember her being in the forefront, especially when addressing the press during the last referendum.

Cheers.

[Doc Holliday]

Beaudoin is not seen as a true possible replacement which is why many see her as the logical Interim Chief.

What's most enteresting about Duceppe, from a sovereignist POV, is that he was able to bring into his party some solid representation of ethnic minorities, like Maka Koto, who got elected for the Bloc in the last Fed election. For me, this is significant because for the first time, it breaks the French-Quebecois only psychological barreer. Duceppe is a hard nationalist (as are the other 2) but he might just be the guy that's gonna be able to appeal to some minorities (as strange as it may sound...).

That being said, it's no free ride. Bouchard had a real tough time adjusting to the PQ and so would Duceppe. If he wins the leadership race, he will have to think and act like a future PM who's party will most probably have to govern the PQ after the next provincial election... he will have to work and rally the members of his own party that range from hard core partitionists right up to even soft Federalists... A huge task... Duceppe never faced criticisms on his own decisions and directions since he was always in the opposition, now he would have to face it almost on a daily basis and deliver politics that wouldn't please everybody...

As for the Bloc Direction, this party was founded by Bouchard as a one men show and continued that way with Duceppe. The only guys that comes to mind are Gauthier, Ménard and Loubier. But neither of them seem too charismatic...

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Received from a friend:

I was travelling, in some back road, between Montreal and Quebec city the other day when a tire blew out. Checking my spare, I found that it too was flat. My only option was to flag down a passing motorist and get a ride to the next town.

The first vehicle to stop was an old man in a van. He yelled out the window, "Need a lift ?" "Yes, I sure do," I replied. "You a Liberal or Péquiste ?," asked the old man. "Péquiste," I replied. "Well, you can just go to Hell," yelled the old man as he sped off.

Another guy stopped, rolled down the window, and asked me the same question. Again, I gave the same answer, "Péquiste." The driver gave me the finger and drove off.

I thought it over and decided that maybe I should change my strategy, since this English area seemed to be overly political and there appeared to be few Péquistes on the road that day.

The next car to stop was a red convertible driven by a beautiful blonde. She smiled seductively and asked if I was a Liberal or Péquiste. "Liberal" I shouted. "Hop in !" replied the blonde.

Driving down the road, I couldn't help but stare at the gorgeous woman in the seat next to me, the wind blowing through her hair, perfect body, and a short skirt that continued to ride higher and higher up her thighs.

Finally, I yelled, "Please stop the car." She immediately slammed on the brakes and as soon as the car stopped, I jumped out. What's the matter ?" she asked.

I can't take it anymore," I replied. "I've only been a Liberal for five minutes and already, I want to screw somebody".

[Doc Holliday]

Legault announced he will not be in the running.

André Boisclair could be a suprise candidate, either as the PQ leader or Bloc leader. He's an economist that represents the young blood that many PQ members would like to see gain importance in the party. At 39 he's still quite young but has a solid experience dating back to 1989 when he got elected at the age of 23. VERY different candidate compare to Duceppe and Marois. From a personnal standpoint I hope he jumps in the running for PQ leadership to actually give some degree of hope that there is a real movement of change happening in that party.