Québécois party

The Parti Québécois (PQ) is a Political party Québécois, working on the provincial scene, which recommends the sovereignty Quebec. A Membre of the PQ is called a pequist (to pronounce /pe ˈkist/). The Québécois Party would currently have (March 2007) more than 150.000 members. He is observant member of COPPPAL.

Note: for the historical context of Quebec, to see the article History of Quebec.

Foundation

The Québécois Party was born from fusion, on October 14th, 1968 of the Mouvement Sovereignty-Association (MSA) of Rene Lévesque and of the national Ralliement (RN) of Gilles Gregoire. This fusion is the fruit of intense negotiations between the chiefs of the three independence political main movements during a good part of the year 1968.

According to the biographer of Rene Lévesque, Pierre Godin, the future chief of the PQ immediately sees the advantage of a fusion between the MSA, which is especially montréalais, and trained defectors of the Liberal party and RN, trained ex-creditists and especially present in the areas of Gaspésie, Abitibi and the Saguenay-Lake-Saint-Jean. If the marriage between the MSA and the RN is concluded quickly, during two meetings held in Montreal in June 1968, on the other hand, convergence between Lévesque and the Rassemblement for national independence (RIN) of Pierre Bourgault will encounter several difficulties.

The radicalism of the RIN on the French unilinguism of sovereign Quebec, its positions socializing out of economic material and the violent demonstration of the procession of the Saint-Jean-Basptiste in Montreal into 1968 exclude for Lévesque any possibility of fusion with the RIN. It accepts however that the militants rinists are registered with in an individual capacity with the new political party, which was already the case.

The congress of foundation of the Québécois Party proceeds from October 11th to 14th 1968 with the Colisée of Quebec. Extremely of: 14280 members as of his foundation, the militants ratify the four main fundamental trends of the party, as revealed in August: creation of a Sovereign state of French language, introduction of an authentic democracy, recognition of the school rights of the anglophone minority and economic association with the remainder of Canada. .

Remained the question of the name to give to the new party. Rene Lévesque supported the use of a name which would use the word sovereignty , like Party souverainist , Party sovereignty-association or Party of the sovereign people . Four of the five names which were proposed with the congress of Quebec included/understood the expression besides.

However, Gilles Gregoire, with the complicity of former rinists, succeeds in obtaining organizers the addition of a white line on the ballot paper distributed to the delegates. Name Parti Québécois is classified among the three finalists. It is finally ratified by the congress with the second round of poll, after a vote by show of hands.

After some hesitations, Lévesque adopts the name finally after of being convinced by the psychiatrist and future minister Camille Laurin, for whom this name had a therapeutic value since it reinforced the fragile identity of the Inhabitants of Quebec.

Two weeks after the congress of foundation of the PQ, on October 26th, 1968, Pierre Bourgault and André of Germany propose the dissolution of the RIN and recommend to: 14000 members of their political training to adhere to the new coalition souverainist.

Growth

The Québécois Party took part for the first time in the general elections the April 29th, 1970, where seven deputies are elected, but not its chief, Rene Lévesque. In 1971, at the time of the third national congress, Rene Lévesque threatens to resign if a resolution recognizing the linguistic rights of the anglophone minority is not adopted. With the general elections of October 29th, 1973, six deputies are elected and the party becomes the Official opposition; Rene Lévesque is however not elected in his county. The Québécois Party gains the provincial elections of November 15th, 1976 with 41.4% of the voices and the election of 71 deputies; Rene Levesque is elected in the county of Taillon and becomes Prime Minister. The commitment is taken to subject, by way chief clerk, the option souverainist.

The first government of the PQ was called the République of the professors because of the high number of its members who were professors at the university level. The PQ was one of the first governments within the Canada to recognize the right to governmental autonomy with the First Nations. During its first mandate, the PQ voted the Loi on the popular consultations (Quebec), the Loi on the public finance of the political parties (Quebec), as well as the Charte of the French language (law 101).

According to the opinion even of the militants, the Québécois Party would be an analogy with the Canadian Parti, a revolutionary party directed by Louis-Joseph Papineau. For this reason, several saw in Lévesque “new Papineau”.

Protection of the French language

Following a Board of inquiry (of 1968 with 1972) into the linguistic language and rights to the Quebec, in the tread of the Quiet revolution, the July 31st 1974, therefore before the come to power of the Québécois Party (the Prime Minister at that time being Robert Bourassa, of the Liberal party of Quebec), the Loi on the official language (“Law 22”) was sanctioned, thus making French the only official language of Quebec.

The Charte of the French language (“Law 101”) as for it was proposed by Rene Lévesque, Prime Minister for Quebec, and was at that time adopted the August 26th 1977. The first version of the Charter of the French language (“Law 101”) was the object of a controversy on its regulation of the commercial billposting display which imposed the French unilinguism on the external signs. This law was largely amended by the liberal in 1993 with the Law 86 which harmonized it with the FORD Stop, a judgment given by the Supreme court the December 15th 1988 (a five years exemption had been obtained by the National Assembly with Law 178). Today, posting can be made in any language, insofar as French is prevalent (in practice, this means that the French text must be appreciably larger than the text in another language; but it is current that this rule is not complied with). On the other hand, French can miss completely losrqu' it acts of publicity conveyed by bodies of information diffusing in a language other than French (e.g.: a publicity for an anglophone newspaper). The Charter of the French language does not concern however that posting, it frames also the methods of access to the school in English language, for example. Let us note that the Charter of the French language is often quoted by its number, “Law 101”.

Referendums on sovereignty

The Québécois Party held two Référendum S on the Souveraineté of Quebec. November 1st, 1979 is deposited with the National Assembly the White paper of the project of Sovereignty-Association.

The first referendum was held on May 20th, 1980. It showed a victory of the federalistic option in an approximate proportion of 60%. On the other hand, the PQ gained the provincial elections of April 13rd, 1981.

October 30th, 1995, the population of Quebec was again consulted on the question of the Sovereignty-Association. Jacques Parizeau, then Prime Minister for Quebec and chief of the Québécois Party, declared in interview with Stéphan Bureau which it would give his resignation in the event of defeat. It is what arrived, the federalistic option having gained the victory per less than one percent of the votes.

The question of the referendum of 1995 was: “Do you Accept that Quebec becomes sovereign, after having formally offered to Canada a new economic and political partnership, within the framework of the bill on the future of Quebec and the signed agreement on June 12th, 1995? ”

The text of the tripartite agreement (the signed agreement on June 12th, 1995), signed by Jacques Parizeau, of the Québécois Party, Lucien Bouchard, leader of the Québécois Block, and Mario Dumont of the democratic Action of Quebec, was sent to all the residences in Quebec a few weeks before the vote. Several federalists think however that the question was not clear.

It can be discussed that the question was vague and used Euphémisme S to decrease the consequences additional clause the separation of the province of Quebec of Canada. Indeed, the ultimate goal of sovereignty is to gain the support necessary to create a new country, then to propose a collaboration with Canada. But in fact, Canada absolutely does not have any obligation to form special collaborations with Quebec if it becomes a country (for example, by letting Quebec use the Canadian currency or not, considering that the Canadian dollar increased its value after the loss of popularity of the Québécois Party). The signed agreement on June 12th, 1995 in fact was signed by the PQ, the ADQ and the Québécois Block, where, actually, none of them represents the federal interests. The agreement does not indicate if the federal one will accept unspecified collaboration or not with independent Quebec, but known as rather than Quebec will propose partnerships in Canada.

Sociopolitic orientations and achievements

The Québécois Party is a party which is defined as being social democrat and nationalist. It is traditionally a little on the left on the Québécois political chessboard. He recommends an approach plus interventionist as regards economy.

Since the Years 1970, multiple proposals were put forth for the adoption of a way of voting with representation proportional. However, the governments followed one another and none wanted to make adopt such a bill. In 1984, Rene Lévesque prepared a bill envisaging a way of voting with representation proportional of the areas, but the majority of its cabinet opposed it.

In second half of the Years 1990, the Québécois Party adopted a center orientation. In 1996, Lucien Bouchard made the jump in provincial policy to become chief of the party and Prime Minister for Quebec.

In 2004, Pierre Dubuc created SPQ Libre, a movement progressist inside the Québécois Party. With the autumn 2005, Mr. Dubuc was candidate with the direction of the party. After its elimination of the race, its partisans gathered around Pauline Marois, considered as being more progressist that his rival, André Boisclair.

Andre Boisclair, become chief of the party in 2005, forever hidden its more néo-liberal said ideas. In 2006, it was opposed to a proposal adopted by the militants who recommended the nationalization of wind energy in Quebec. Mr. Boisclair resigned on May 8th, 2007.

Its relation with the Québécois Block

The Québécois Bloc is a federal party Canadian, it thus does not operate the same stage of government as the Québécois Party. Favorable to the sovereignty of Quebec, he is regarded as being close to the Québécois Party, one of his founders, Lucien Bouchard, having in addition joined the Québécois Party - and was elected Prime Minister for Quebec, before resigning and yielding his place to Bernard Landry.

Races with the direction of the Québécois Party

Since 1968, 6 races with the direction of the Québécois Party took place. Two of them required a vote. In the other cases, the chief of the party was elected without opposition. It should be noted that there exist regulations on the setting in candidature, in particular in connection with the number of supports necessary on behalf of the members, currently located at 1000 signatures.

In 1968, Rene Lévesque being the founder of the Québécois Party, it did not have any opposition and was declared President of the Party the very same day vote, on October 13rd, 1968.

September 29th, 1985, following the departure of Rene Lévesque, Pierre Marc Johnson was selected as chief of the Québécois Party, following the first ballot, collecting 58,7% (56 925) votes. The other candidates were Pauline Marois, which collected 19,7% (19 471) votes, Jean Garon, which collected 16,2% (15 730) votes, Guy Bertrand, which collected 2,8% (2 733) votes, Francine Lalonde, which collected 1,5% (1 484) votes and Luc Gagnon, which collected 1,1% (1 046) votes.

March 19th, 1989, following the departure of Pierre Marc Johnson, Jacques Parizeau was chosen, without opposition, chief of the Québécois Party.

January 27th, 1996, following the departure of Jacques Parizeau, Lucien Bouchard was chosen, without opposition, chief of the Québécois Party.

March 2nd, 2001, following the departure of Lucien Bouchard, Bernard Landry was chosen, without opposition, chief of the Québécois Party. Jean Ouimet had been presented against him, but had withdrawn its candidature some time front.

Race with the direction of the Québécois Party of 2005

Following the surprised resignation of Bernard Landry on June 4th, 2005 (to have received a vote of confidence of 76,2%), another race with the direction took place. The caucus of the deputies chooses Louise Harel as temporary chief.

The vote for this station took place of the 13 to the November 15th 2005 per telephone poll of all the members and the result was announced in the evening of November 15th, 2005, dates from the 29e birthday of the 1st accession to the capacity of the party.

Seven candidates and a candidate official proposed to succeed Bernard Landry. It is about Louis Bernard, André Boisclair, Pierre Dubuc, Ghislain Lebel, Richard Legendre, Pauline Marois, Jean Ouimet and of Jean-Claude Saint-Andrew.

Following the poll, André Boisclair was elected with the first turn of vote with 53,68% of the voices (either 56.503 votes), thus preceding Pauline Marois who collected 30,6% of the voices (or 32.166 votes).

Thereafter, in 2006, this one, member of the Québécois Party since 1981 and having occupied of many important stations of which that of vice-first minister withdrew political life.

May 8th, 2007, André Boisclair announces his resignation as chief of the Québécois Party.

Race with the direction of the Québécois Party of 2007

Because of the resignation of Andre Boisclair on May 8th, 2007, a race with the direction was engaged with the Québécois Party. The deputy François Gendron assumes the Intérim until the election of the new chief. Dated May 11th, 2007, whereas the rules of the race were not fixed yet by the party, two people already officially announced their candidature in the race for the cheffery. It is of Gilles Duceppe, which announced it by line of communication, and about Pauline Marois.

May 12th, 2007, Gilles Duceppe announces that it withdraws race and that it supports Pauline Marois.

June 26th, with the closing of the period of setting in candidature, it is the only person having deposited the necessary signatures. She becomes thus officially chief of the Québécois party.

Chiefs of the Québécois Party

See too

Political of Political Quebec
of Canada
National committee of the young people of the Québécois Party

External bonds

Official site of the Québécois Party
Blogue of the Québécois Party
Site of the Québécois Party of Verchères
“sovereignty was with the corner of the street” (article of the Press over the first 30 years of the PQ)
Courses with the direction of the Québécois Party — QuébecPolitique.com

References

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