Bouchard was more popular than Parizeau who was a bit of a patrician and the media certainly preferred Bouchard as he is right wing. Bouchard was a decent orator also and was sort of the key to a mushy middle group of people who could oscillate between the federalism and sovereigntism and he was seen in a way as a key to widening the group to the point where sovereignty could win. However, his right wing policies ended up alienating people, the Quebec solidaire really is his legacy in this way, and his reappearances to claim Quebecois to be lazy, to call for remaking the state, all this has damaged his reputation. That he shows himself to be a clear Mulroneyist also... the PQ actually forced him to defend the "Quebec model" in 1998 during the campaign when Charest said he wanted to end it, since then it seems the two old Mulroney hands are more alike than ever.

Wow! Do tell...

I always thought that he did pretty well for and old ugly guy. he must be good in bed and also not to forget he must be very very very generous with his cash. lolololo

Bouchard is probably still the most respected member of the PQ, ever, after Rene Levesque.
Working for the industry likely means he knows more about the possibilities of controling the risks than Marois does.
I don`t think you can doubt Bouchard's dedication to Quebec. Or Charest's.
 
But certainly many questions could be raised about the economic competence and intentions of Marois' PQ.

externalities we are now paying for = while in power she/PQ neo-liberal zero deficit policiy crippled our health care "system". we are now paying for private staff who would still be in the public system etc.

No Quebec Premier had to deal with the global economic meltdown that Charest had to deal with, since 1929. When was the last time Quebec economically outperformed the US and Ontario, as it did under Jean Charest's leadership. And the result is Quebec's unemployment rate has not been this low in 40yrs. Which is the best way to pay off longterm debt.

I know the student protesters are happy because Marois has agreed to spend more taxpayer money on them. But just because the students aren't paying for themselves, doesn't mean their bills don't still have to be paid.

And what about the people who are going to lose their jobs at the Gentilly Power plant because Marois was too quick to pull the plug. Gentilly is actually rated as one of the 5 safest nuclear power plants in the world.

And what about the damage to Quebec's economic future because of Marois and the PQ's refusal to invest in the oil and gas industry or the Plan Nord. Just like they were against Baie James.

You can't just blindly push a social and environmental agenda and ignore economic realities. You have to have a balance of the two. Otherwise you end up with a reputation as Canada's Greece.

No matter what Quebec decides to do with it's future, it would be better off not having to rely on financial contributions from other people.

Good point. Thanks.
I suppose this means Marois is merely posturing and will likely bend to her husbands demands?