Premier Bernard Landry called for elections immediately after announcing the Quebec Budget on March 14, 2003. Landry's Parti Quebecois had recently rebounded from dismal poll numbers to lead a competitive three-way race. Analysts predicted the possibility of a minority government since the Liberals, Parti Quebecois, and the Action Democratique all were polling in the high twenties to low thirties.
The Iraq War drew attention away from the four-week campaign and Landry's pequisistes maintained a thin lead in all polls. When the war left the headlines and the debate between Landry, Charest, and Dumont entered the tone and direction of the campaign changed. Charest was widely seen as the victor of the debate. The final two weeks campaign saw polls begin to shift towards Charest and the Liberals.
During the final weekend of campaigning Jean Charest and Mario Dumont joined the long list of Canadian politicians hit with cream pies at the hands of Les Entartistes. The campaign closed with a surging Liberal Party, Parti Quebecois on the defense, and the ADQ balloon bursting as support dropped. The three-way raced predicted had quickly turned into a two-way race with the Liberals the party to beat.
Only one hour after polls closed, the Liberals were the apparent victors and Charest the incoming Premier.
Premier Landry will hand of the reigns of government on April 29, 2003. He will stay on as opposition leader, but it is widely assume a new PQ Leadership Race will
[More...]Premier Bernard Landry called for elections immediately after announcing the Quebec Budget on March 14, 2003. Landry's Parti Quebecois had recently rebounded from dismal poll numbers to lead a competitive three-way race. Analysts predicted the possibility of a minority government since the Liberals, Parti Quebecois, and the Action Democratique all were polling in the high twenties to low thirties.
The Iraq War drew attention away from the four-week campaign and Landry's pequisistes maintained a thin lead in all polls. When the war left the headlines and the debate between Landry, Charest, and Dumont entered the tone and direction of the campaign changed. Charest was widely seen as the victor of the debate. The final two weeks campaign saw polls begin to shift towards Charest and the Liberals.
During the final weekend of campaigning Jean Charest and Mario Dumont joined the long list of Canadian politicians hit with cream pies at the hands of Les Entartistes. The campaign closed with a surging Liberal Party, Parti Quebecois on the defense, and the ADQ balloon bursting as support dropped. The three-way raced predicted had quickly turned into a two-way race with the Liberals the party to beat.
Only one hour after polls closed, the Liberals were the apparent victors and Charest the incoming Premier.
Premier Landry will hand of the reigns of government on April 29, 2003. He will stay on as opposition leader, but it is widely assume a new PQ Leadership Race will take place in the fall of 2003 to replace him. Mario Dumont, will stay on as leader of ADQ and continue his efforts to build his party and win the 12 seats needed for official party status.
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