Quebec voters not ready for a woman premier: former Bloc Quebecois MP

QUEBEC – A Parti Quebecois candidate has said his leader may be facing an uphill struggle to become Quebec’s premier because she is a woman.

Serge Cardin said Pauline Marois will have to face the fact that some voters might not be ready for a woman premier.

The former Bloc Quebecois MP said he is “greatly disappointed” by such an attitude.

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Marois has said Cardin’s comments have been misinterpreted – she says she thinks Quebecers are ready for a woman to become premier.

Cardin later clarified his comments, calling Marois the most competent leader.

His comments echoed those of Claude Pinard, who said last November that a significant portion of the electorate wouldn’t vote for Marois because she is a woman.

Pinard, a former member of the legislature, is not seeking re-election.

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