Bloc Québécois is a parliamentary movement made up of a group of Québec MPs who originally left their respective parties in protest against the Conservative government's unwillingness to change aspects of the MEECH LAKE ACCORD to favour Québec. The defection was led by Lucien BOUCHARD, a Tory Cabinet minister and former personal friend of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. A party convention held in June 1991 chose Bouchard as the leader.
During the 1993 election campaign, Bouchard argued that federalism had failed and that sovereignty for Québec was the only option for Canada. His promise to put Québec's interests first resulted in over 50% of the popular vote in Québec, and 54 seats. The party defeated all but one of the incumbent Conservatives. The 54 seats conferred on the party the status of Official Opposition, which entitles the Bloc to public funds for staff and research. Bouchard resigned his seat in the House to become premier of Queébec in January 1996 and was succeeded as leader by Michel Gauthier, who resigned only 9 months later. A new leadership campaign left the party divided and Gilles Duceppe as leader.
