When will André Boisclair resign?

[August1991]

It's a truism in a parliamentary system that a party leader can survive almost anything except the loss of support of the caucus. (The equivalent truism in the US is that a president can withstand anything if he keeps partisan support in the Congress.)

Mulroney survived everything because he always had his caucus. Thatcher was kicked out when she lost hers. Nixon was forced to resign when he lost almost all Republicans in the Senate. Clinton withstood impeachment because he always had Democrat support.

It's quite clear that Boisclair has lost the support of his caucus and his resignation is a matter of time. If he stays on, the issue will just grow worse because people have taken public positions and of course they won't shut up now.

Frankly, I thought Boisclair's speech the night of the election was tantamount to a resignation speech so it's not as if he hasn'tr considered the possibility. Maybe someone should assuage his ego by noting that Quebec politics has a way of giving a second life to some politicians who appeared to be finished.

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What does this mean for the PQ? Will Duceppe become its next leader? Dunno exactly.

The PQ is in a real mess right now and the problem has a deep root. The sovereignist option can only garner at best 50% of the popular vote when the question is phrased as a partnership with the rest of Canada. And this, after about 40 years of debate.

Most people in Quebec are exhausted by this argument. It's like the same family argument that has been rerun far too many times.

[Charles Anthony]

Maybe someone should assuage his ego by noting that Quebec politics has a way of giving a second life to some politicians who appeared to be finished.

After Parizeau quit, he went on a speaking tour throughout universities outside of Quebec. To summarize, he briefly reviewed Quebec history and diplomatically explained the origins of the separatism. He also took questions. This was marvelous.

I attended one of his speaches in a completely non-Francophone school and he was met with immense respect from the students.

Boisclair can bow out and do something similar.

What does this mean for the PQ? Will Duceppe become its next leader? Dunno exactly.

I hope not. Duceppe is doing fine where he is right now.

[Topaz]

He did today! Does this leave the door open to Duceppe and if so, can we get rid of the BQ in Ottawa??

[jdobbin]

He did today! Does this leave the door open to Duceppe and if so, can we get rid of the BQ in Ottawa??

I think Duceppe would rather have a chance of being Premier of Quebec rather than be a secondary figure in Ottawa.

[August1991]

Well, this happened faster than I expected.

Given Boisclair's "anti-Duceppe interview" with R-C on the weekend, I thought he might try to hang on longer. He chose to quit. I guess he decided that life is too short to waste precious moments arguing with people when the result is a foregone conclusion.

Boisclair's fate is the same as P-M Johnson, Bouchard and Landry. Hounded from office.

Boisclair can bow out and do something similar.

In his resignation speech, Boisclair said that he would remain in the National Assembly "for the moment".

Parizeau loved giving speeches and I think he enjoyed speaking to English audiences. He's a good speaker too, if you want a technocrat.

Boisclair is ony 41 but he never finished his BA so he can't go to a university post and he's not a lawyer so he can't go to a law firm. IMV, he'll either go into radio/TV or else go back to school.

I think Duceppe would rather have a chance of being Premier of Quebec rather than be a secondary figure in Ottawa.

That question deserves a new thread.