Jacques Parizeau is former leader of the
Parti Québécois and Premier of
Quebec. His most important accomplishment during his premiership from September 1994 to October 1996 was staging a
sovereignty referendum. The federalists won this referendum by with a mere 51% of the vote, compared to 60% in the first referendum in 1980.
He is perhaps best remembered for his comments in his speech following the referendum, blaming the defeat on "money and the ethnic vote".