Mario Dumont to host Quebec TV show

One day after handing in his resignation as the leader of the Action Dmocratique du Qubec, Mario Dumont announced Wednesday he will return to the public spotlight soon as a television host.

Dumont will host a new, daily current affairs show on the TQS network starting in September.

The show will be called Dumont 360, a play on the title of the popular nightlyCNN program Anderson Cooper 360.

The showwill be produced by La Presse Tl, the TV productionarm of the company that owns La Presse newspaper.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Dumont said he is looking forward to interviewing newsmakers and ordinary Quebecers.

He said his lengthy political career will serve him well as he moves to the other side of the microphone.

"There are not many issues that you will bring to my table that, without reading any notes, I cannot discuss Who pays for what? What's the law? Who are the players in that world?" said Dumont.

To get accustomed to the broadcast world, Dumont will begin working for the network in a few weeks as an advisor.

Other Quebec politicians have made the move to television, including Jean Lapierre, a former Liberal MP who now is one of the main political analysts on the TVA network.

Dumont announced Tuesday he is quitting as ADQ leader on March 6 after more than 14 years at the helm of the party. His last day will be March 6.

The ADQ wonseven seats out of a possible 125 in last December's election, compared with 41 in the 2007 vote.