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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Quebec voters head to the polls | Quebec voters head to the polls |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Voting is under way in the mainly French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec to elect a new government for the second time in two years. | Voting is under way in the mainly French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec to elect a new government for the second time in two years. |
| Liberal Premier Jean Charest called the poll, saying he needed a majority to deal with the global economic crisis. | |
| He has been in office since 2003 and currently heads a minority government. | He has been in office since 2003 and currently heads a minority government. |
| The Quebec election comes as national politics are in upheaval, with opposition parties trying to topple the Conservative federal government. | The Quebec election comes as national politics are in upheaval, with opposition parties trying to topple the Conservative federal government. |
| Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a bid to suspend parliament until January, blocking the opposition's attempts to bring down his minority government. | Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a bid to suspend parliament until January, blocking the opposition's attempts to bring down his minority government. |
| The Liberals and New Democrats had signed a deal to defeat Mr Harper in a confidence vote that had been scheduled for this Monday and to form a coalition government. | The Liberals and New Democrats had signed a deal to defeat Mr Harper in a confidence vote that had been scheduled for this Monday and to form a coalition government. |
| Outburst | Outburst |
| The Bloc Quebecois, the sister party of the Parti Quebecois, promised to support such a coalition. | The Bloc Quebecois, the sister party of the Parti Quebecois, promised to support such a coalition. |
| This prompted an outburst from Mr Harper. | This prompted an outburst from Mr Harper. |
| "At a time like this, a coalition with separatists cannot help Canada," he said, referring to the Bloc's desire for independence for Quebec. | "At a time like this, a coalition with separatists cannot help Canada," he said, referring to the Bloc's desire for independence for Quebec. |
| Mr Harper's comments brought the issue of independence back to the political fore but it remains to be seen if they boost the standing of the sovereignty movement that has seen its support gradually fade to under 40% in recent years, analysts say. | Mr Harper's comments brought the issue of independence back to the political fore but it remains to be seen if they boost the standing of the sovereignty movement that has seen its support gradually fade to under 40% in recent years, analysts say. |
| The main issue during the campaign has been the effects of the global financial crisis on Quebec. | The main issue during the campaign has been the effects of the global financial crisis on Quebec. |
| Voters have until 0100 GMT on Tuesday to go to the polls to cast their ballots. In total, 125 members of the National Assembly are being elected. | Voters have until 0100 GMT on Tuesday to go to the polls to cast their ballots. In total, 125 members of the National Assembly are being elected. |
| The main parties are the Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Quebecois, and the Action Democratique du Quebec (ADQ). | The main parties are the Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Quebecois, and the Action Democratique du Quebec (ADQ). |