Landry Quebec separatist leader

Landry Quebec separatist leader

SAINT-HYACINTHE, Quebec (Reuters): Bernard Landry, a political
veteran who said as a boy he wanted to become "president of the
Republic of Quebec," was chosen leader of the ruling separatist
Parti Quebecois on Friday night, a post that will make him the
province's premier.

The firebrand Landry, currently the province's finance
minister, was unopposed in his bid to replace popular moderate
Lucien Bouchard as leader of the Parti Quebecois. He will be
sworn in as premier of Canada's largest province next Thursday.

A party official told cheering delegates gathered for a three-
day convention in this city east of Montreal that Landry was
elected by acclamation as president of the Parti Quebecois
because he faced no opposition for the post. The party has been
in power since 1994.

Landry has said he would not be shy about pushing the
separatist agenda, despite polls showing fading support in mainly
French-speaking Quebec for pulling out of the world's second
largest country.