Posted at Monday, December 05, 2005  EDT  

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe

Duceppe apologizes

Canadian Press with Globe and Mail Update

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe Monday apologized for saying he wants the federal Liberals to "disappear" in Quebec.

Mr. Duceppe says he only meant to say that he wants the Bloc to win every riding in Quebec and not give any seats to the Liberals in the Jan. 23 election.

On Sunday, Mr. Duceppe had addressed 600 delegates at a special campaign-oriented council meeting.

"On Jan. 23, we can say, 'Fortunately, the Bloc is here. Fortunately, we'll make the Liberals disappear'," he told the crowd.

That comment had been immediately attacked by Liberal Leader Paul Martin's Quebec lieutenant, Jean Lapierre, who accused Mr. Duceppe of speaking in a "Nazi-like" way.

On Monday, Mr. Duceppe apologized for his comments but said he also wants Mr. Lapierre to apologize for the Nazi comparison.

But Mr. Lapierre said Monday in Saguenay, Que., that he found Mr. Duceppe's statement about getting the Liberals off Quebec's electoral map to be arrogant.

"Does he want a totalitarian country?" Mr. Lapierre asked.

Mr. Lapierre said Sunday that Mr. Duceppe might have gotten carried away by his polling numbers and should withdraw his statement.

"For a guy who dreams of having his country, will it be the kind of one-minded country where voices that don't think like him have to disappear?" Mr. Lapierre asked.

Speaking to reporters after his speech Sunday, Mr. Duceppe confirmed he was alluding to the electoral map -- not the existence of the party itself -- when he spoke of making the Liberals "disappear."

Mr. Duceppe appeared defensive Sunday about the rare glitch in an otherwise tightly scripted campaign. "It was (just) enthusiasm speaking when I used that expression," he said

On Monday, during a campaign stop, Mr. Martin defended Mr. Lapierre.

"Mr. Lapierre has essentially explained what he said," said Mr. Martin.

"But let me just deal with what Mr. Duceppe said. I think that it demonstrates really the narrowness of mind, and an arrogance that is simply unacceptable. It also I think reflects the fundamental philosophy that he espouses.

"The fact is that this is not the first time. Mr. Gauthier over a month ago said that his Quebec would not have a Lapierre, would not have a Robilliard, would not have a Dion, would not have a Pettigrew. Essentially what they are saying is if you don't share the separatist option then we don't that we believe that you belong in contemporary Quebec. Well, let me tell you. There are literally thousands, thousands upon thousands of Quebeckers who believe strongly in Canada and they are not going to disappear from the scene.

"I'm a Quebecker. My three children were born in Quebec. I'm going to spend Christmas, if you want to call me, I'm going to spend Christmas in Quebec. This is my home and I have no intention of disappearing from the scene."

"What have they got to say to those thousands upon thousands of Quebeckers who believe in Canada. I must say if you want to understand what's happening that I really think that all you have to do is to look at what Michel Gauthier and what Gilles Duceppe say," he said.

With reports from Jane Taber