Michel Gauthier is a Canadian politician, who served as leader of the Bloc Québécois from 1996 to 1997.
Career
He was Leader of the Opposition during this time. He was succeeded by Gilles Duceppe. As a result of health issues after surgery, he announced in March 2007 that he would not run in the next federal election.
He served as BQ House Leader from 1997-2007.
Gauthier also served as the chief campaign organizer. He formally resigned on July 29, 2007, and became the host of Gauthier, a television news show, which began airing on TQS in September 2007.
Politics
His lack of profile resulted in some opposition parties mocking Gauthier as being the "faceless leader" of the opposition, as he was largely a political unknown in most of Canada and even in Quebec. Gauthier"s leadership was unpopular with the caucus due to alleged conservative views and lack of charisma, and facing a revolt by his MPs, Gauthier resigned in 1997.
Membership
Born in Quebec City, Gauthier was first elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the Parti Québécois in 1981. The vote was conducted among members of the party"s directorate rather than by all members of the party, and this hurt Gauthier"s legitimacy.