Bloc Québécois

The Bloc Québécois is a social democratic and separatist party in Canada. It occurs exclusively in the French-speaking province of Quebec to be elections at the federal level. Members and sympathizers of the Bloc are called bloquistes ( blɑkist ). In the general election of 2011, the Bloc 4 of the 75 seats, which devolved to the province of Quebec won.

Political orientation

Apart from the issue of independence of the Bloc positioning itself in the left political spectrum. Among other things, he stands up for same-sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana and for the Kyoto Protocol. Long-term objective of the Bloc is the independence of Quebec, next to it represents the interests of the inhabitants of Quebec in the federal parliament. The Bloc is supported by many unions and works closely with the operating only at the provincial level Parti Québécois together - he is the de facto nationwide political wing of the party, but there are no organizational ties. Nevertheless, both parties supported each other in election campaigns and many members are also members of the other party.

History

During the Quiet Revolution of the idea of ​​independence of Québec became popular in one part of the population. In protest against the bad social situation of the francophone population of the Front de libération du Québec ( FLQ ) Founded in 1963, fought violently for independence of Quebec. The government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau fought the terrorists with harsh emergency laws and could deploy the Canadian Army in Montreal. The Parti Québécois founded in 1968, took over under its Chairman, René Lévesque first time in 1976 the provincial government. The PQ government declared 1977 French the sole official language of Quebec (see Charter of the French Language ) and organized in 1980 the first referendum on the independence of the province, which was rejected by the voters.

In its present form the Bloc Québéois 1990 arose from an informal link between members of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party, which leaked from their parties after the failure of the Meech Lake Accord. Actually, the Bloc should only be a temporary connection that dissolves after achieving independence. The Liberals still speak of a " temporary ad hoc rainbow coalition. " Was led informal association of Lucien Bouchard, who had been Minister of the Environment until his resignation from Brian Mulroney's federal government. Gilles Duceppe was the first elected members of the Bloc when he won a by-election in August 1990. He ran as independent because the Bloc had not yet been registered at that time as a federal party.

At the general election in 1993, two years after its formal establishment, the Bloc won 54 seats immediately in Québec. As the voices of the opposition distributed to the Reform Party, the Progressive Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party, the Bloc second strongest force in parliament and thus " official opposition " was. 1995 continued the Parti Québécois in a second referendum for independence. This referendum narrowly failed, 50.58 percent of voters in Quebec voted to remain in Canada. The day after the failed referendum Province Prime Minister Jacques Parizeau announced his imminent resignation. Then Bouchard resigned his post as chairman of the Bloc and came to his successors.

As the new chairman of the Bloc followed Michel Gauthier, who, however, resigned after only one year and was replaced by Gilles Duceppe. In the 1997 General Election the Bloc ten seats and lost the status as the official opposition. Three years later, the Bloc fell to a low of 38 seats. The main reason was that completed by the PQ government unpopular Zwangsfusionierungen of communities in several metropolitan areas, which resulted in gains of the Liberal seat in the appropriate areas. Due to the unpopularity of the Liberal provincial government of Jean Charest the Bloc could grow significantly in the general election in 2004 and again reached the level of 1993. The absolute majority of votes in Quebec City at the general election in 2006 seemed to be possible, but resulted ultimately due to the rise of the Conservatives Party in rural areas three seat losses. In the general election of 2011 resulted in a sharp drop: from 49 seats that were won in the general election of 2008, only four could be defended.

Election results

Party chairman

• Lucien Bouchard (25 July 1990 - 16 January 1996 )
• Gilles Duceppe (January 16, 1996 - February 17, 1996, on an interim basis )
• Michel Gauthier (February 17, 1996 - March 15, 1997 )
• Gilles Duceppe ( March 15, 1997 - May 2, 2011)