Quebec separatist leader set to quit - TV networks

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

OTTAWA, May 8 (Reuters) The leader of Canada's separatist Parti Quebecois, Andre Boisclair, who faced scathing criticism after a heavy election loss in March, will quit on Tuesday, two French-language television networks said.

LCN and Radio-Canada said Boisclair would announce his depature at a closed-door meeting of party legislators in Quebec City, which was set to start at 11 a.m.

The youthful Boisclair was elected leader in late 2005 when his party was well ahead in the polls. But a series of stumbles and gaffes gradually eroded his popularity and the Parti Quebecois finished in third place in the March 26 election.

The defeat prompted immediate calls inside the party for Boisclair to quit. He vowed to stay on, but lost more support after giving an interview in which he accused a rival of trying to depose him.

The accusations laid bare a major split inside the separatist movement, which has been trying to break away from Canada for more than 30 years. Quebec held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995, both of which failed.

REUTERS PJ RK2115

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