Lucien Bouchard

Bouchard, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, left the federal Tories and founded the Bloc Qu

In the 1993 federal election, the Bloc Qu

Bouchard was hospitalized with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection that destroys soft tissue. He underwent multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery, losing part of his leg but surviving. The illness temporarily sidelined his political career.

Bouchard left federal politics to become leader of the Parti Qu

Bouchard resigned as premier of Quebec, citing frustration with the slow progress of the sovereignty movement and internal party divisions. He was succeeded by Bernard Landry. Bouchard later left politics and returned to law and writing.