Embattled Bloc Qubcois leader Martine Ouellet resigns

The leader of theBloc Qubcois is stepping down,ending a chaotic chapter in the party's history.

After a crushing vote of non-confidence on the weekend, Martine Ouellet announced Monday morning that she'll be resigning effective June 11.

The party has been in a shamblessince late Februarywhen seven of its 10 MPs quit, citing Ouellet's leadership style.

She has been criticized for being uncompromising and for focusing too sharply on Quebec independence instead of on defending the province's interests on the federal scene.

Ouellet,who has been leader since March 2017, received 32 per cent of party members' support during the confidence vote held Friday and Saturday. (She had said previouslyshe believed getting the support of 50 per cent plus one would give her the legitimacy to stay on as head of the party.)

During a 30-minute speech leading up to her resignation announcement, apassionate Ouellet blamed the vote on party presidentMario Beaulieu, accusing the former leader ofrunning anegative and aggressive campaign against her.

'I'm not perfect'

"Thebiggest obstacle of the realization of [a] republic of Quebec is internally. That is not normal," she told reporters after the news conference.

Ouelletalso brushed aside criticism of her leadership style.

"I'm not perfect. I will never say I'm perfect. But if I compare myself with other male leaders, they are not [either.]And I would say a lot of them are more imperfect but they didn't receive as much attack as me," she said.

"When you don't know what to say you, you say it's the style."

Ouellet calls independence movement 'sick' as she resigns as leader

6 years ago

Duration 1:23

Bloc Quebecois leader Martine Ouellet lost a vote of confidence on Sunday.

The party members also voted 65 per cent in favour of focusing on promoting Quebec independence on a daily basis.

The seven members who quit the party have formed a new federal party which they plan to callQuebec Debout.Its members say they no longer believe it's their job to promote Quebec separatism at the federal level.

The Bloc'simpact on the national politicalscene has diminished since itsheyday under Lucien Bouchard. In the 1993 election, the party secured 54 seats and formed the country's Official Opposition.