Duceppe 'deplores' candidates who didn't campaign
Candidates who let their names stand without campaigning during the lead-up to the May 2 federal election showed disrespect to citizens, departing Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe said Wednesday.
Duceppe called out winning candidates from the NDP who won their ridings without campaigning, including those who were able to ride the so-called orange crush to victory without setting foot into the riding.
"I deplore people who didn't campaign," Duceppe said. "The burden of proof is there and ... I hope everything [the NDP] promised is delivered."
He took a shot at one NDP candidate who famously doesn't speak French fluently but won her mostly francophone riding, saying all his candidates spoke French. But he said the people he spoke to said they weren't rejecting the Bloc, but trying something new.
"I met a lot of people who said, 'We're sad for you, it's unfortunate,'" Duceppe said. "I didn't hear anything bad about the Bloc, that 'you didn't do the job'."
The man who led the party through six elections grew emotional when talking about his family.
"My children are calling me twice a day to know if I'm okay," he said, adding he'll take his time to feel better and decide what to do next, but he hasn't thought yet about joining the Parti Québécois. He says he hasn't had any job offers from the Bloc's provincial counterparts.
"I'm as OK as possible. It's something sad that happened but there's still life in front of me."
Duceppe said the party remains important for a large number of Quebecers despite losing all but four of their seats to the NDP. And he said while he's stepping down, he'll still be active in the party, but not in an official role.
"I'm taking responsibility. It's hard. It's hard on morale ... [but] that's politics. It's like sports," he said. "We can't take the wins and refuse the losses."
