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.