Stéphane Bédard, Canadian lawyer and politician
Stéphane Bédard, born on March 11, 1968, is a prominent Canadian lawyer who also dedicated a significant portion of his career to politics in Quebec. Representing the provincial riding of Chicoutimi, he served as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec.
Interim Leadership of the Parti Québécois
A notable period in Bédard's political trajectory was his tenure as interim leader of the Parti Québécois from 2014 to 2015. This crucial role began in the wake of the Parti Québécois government's defeat in the 2014 general election and the subsequent resignation of then-leader Pauline Marois. On April 10, 2014, the PQ caucus appointed Bédard as their interim parliamentary leader. He officially transitioned into the Leader of the Opposition when the legislature resumed on April 23, 2014. Furthermore, his leadership within the party was solidified on June 7, 2014, when he officially became the acting leader of the Parti Québécois, a role that commenced following Marois' resignation at the Parti Québécois Council of Presidents.
Transition and Resignation
Bédard maintained this interim leadership position until a new party leader was elected. His term concluded with the election of Pierre Karl Péladeau in the Parti Québécois leadership election held on May 15, 2015. Stéphane Bédard subsequently stepped away from provincial politics, resigning from both the legislature and the Parti Québécois on October 22, 2015.