Gilles Duceppe

Gilles Duceppe (Montreal, July 22nd, 1947 -) is a Canadian politician (Québécois). He is chief of the Québécois Bloc (BQ) with the House of Commons of Canada where he represents the district of Bay-tree-Holy-Marie.

Biography

Born in Montreal, Gilles Duceppe is the son of the famous Québécois actor Jean Duceppe and of Helene Rowley. He studied political science with the Université of Montreal. During its youth, he recommended the Communisme and was a chart-bearing member of the working Communist party (PCO). Later, it becomes Négociateur for the Confédération of the national unions (CSN).

In 1990, Gilles Duceppe becomes the first deputy elected under the banner of the Québécois Block, at the time of a by-election in the district of Bay-tree-Holy-Marie, in Montreal. However, it was officially recorded as independent. All the others Député S of the Québécois Block had forsaken the parties Progressist-Conservatives or Libéraux earlier that year.

In 1996, the chief of the Québécois Block of the time, Lucien Bouchard, leaves his station to make the jump in Québécois policy and to take the head of the Québécois Party. Gilles Duceppe is then named chief of the Québécois Block per interim until the nomination of Michel Gauthier. When Michel Gauthier resigns of his station, in March 1997, Gilles Duceppe succeeds to him.

At the time of the general election of 1997, the Québécois Block loses its statute of official opposition. The party is master key from 54 to 44 seats and slips in third position with the House of Commons behind the Parti reformist Canada. The countryside of 1997 was extremely difficult for Gilles Duceppe, the need for the Québécois Block being called in question, two years after the failure chief clerk of 1995 in Quebec. During this program, the souverainist chief is victim of the episode known as “of the bonnet”: after an electoral visit at a cheese dairy of Sorel-Tracy where it had had to wear a bonnet for reasons of hygiene, it is turned into ridiculous and is caricatured with excess during months, which does not help of anything its image chief of a party whose popular favor decreased.

The Québécois Block will fall to 38 seats to the election 2000. However, the Scandale of the mixed liability companies which burst shortly after the departure of Jean Chrétien as a liberal chief, in 2003, propels the Québécois Block in the voting intentions. Gilles Duceppe, politician experienced and skilful in the public debates and at the time of the electoral campaigns, carries out his party towards important profits to the federal election of 2004. The Québécois Block will equalize its performance of 1993, gaining 54 seats. The unification of the parties progressist-conservative and reformist will prevent however the formation souverainist from filing the opposition.

Extremely recent success of its party, Gilles Duceppe is supported by 96,8% of delegated Québécois Block at the time of a Vote of confidence held with the National congress of October 2005. Always in 2005, the resignation of Bernard Landry as chief of the Québécois Party and the Official opposition, feeds the speculations on the chances of Gilles Duceppe to enter the race to the leadership of the Parti Québécois. This last quickly put an end to the rumors by indicating that it will not leave Ottawa to launch out in the race.

The speculations on its nomination as chief of the Québécois Party begin again in May 2007, in the tread of the defeat at the polls of this party to the Québécois elections of March 26th, 2007 and the resignation of its chief, André Boisclair. On Friday, May 11, 2007, Gilles Duceppe confirms his intention to take share with the race with the direction of the Québécois Party, a few minutes before Pauline Marois does not announce it also its intentions. However, on Saturday, May 12, 2007, hardly 30 hours after having announced its candidature, it is withdrawn and joined in Pauline Marois. A survey Crop it Presse appeared in the daily newspaper the Press of the Saturday, May 12 gave 45% of supports to Pauline Marois against 21% in Gilles Duceppe. This last known as to have included/understood the message: it will be “Pauline in Quebec and Gilles in Ottawa”.

Of return to the House of Commons, on Monday, May 14, Gilles Duceppe announces that it will subject to a new vote of confidence at the time of the National council of October 2007. For their part, the deputies of sound caucus grant a unanimous support to him. Gilles Duceppe explains to have made the error to be itself launched too quickly in the race with the direction of the Parti Québécois and affirms that he wants to continue his work on the federal scene.

On Monday, May 14, Gilles Duceppe accompanied Pauline Marois at the time of one evening benefit by the Québécois Block held in Montreal. He meant to him his unconditional support on this occasion.

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