Pierre Karl Pladeau supporters, opponents react to PQ leadership win

Pierre Karl Pladeau may be in for a short honeymoon following his Friday night win, with some of his political opponents already taking shots at the new leader of the Parti Qubcois.

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Pladeau, who ran against fellow PQ MNAsMartine Ouellet and Alexandre Cloutier,won the leadership with 57.6 per cent of the vote.

Premier Philippe Couillard tweeted thathe had called Pladeau to congratulate himshortly after his win.

Franois Legault, the leader of the Opposition party Coalition Avenir Qubec, also took to social media to congratulate Pladeau, tweeting "our political ideas differ, but your commitment merits respect."

The two leaders left the partisan work to their underlings who took aim again at Pladeau on a number of fronts, including his staunch pro-sovereignty views and his refusal to sell his controlling interest in media giant Quebecor.

Out of touch with modern Quebec?

In his victory speech, Pladeau reiterated his main political goal of achieving Quebec independence, telling delegates on Friday that they have given him a "strong and clear mandate to make Quebec a country."

Quebec's labour minister accused Pladeau of being out of touch with Quebecers.

"Mr Pladeau entered politics for only one reason: to achieve Quebec separation," said Sam Hamad. "The choice of the Pquistes is the separation of Quebec. The choice of Qubcois is the economy and jobs."

Qubec Solidaire spokespeopleFranoise David and Andres Fontecilladescribed Pladeau as anti-unionist and divisive.

"His style is not unifyinghe polarizes," David said in a news release.

They also said the media mogul is not the man to lead the traditionally left-leaning Parti Qubcois to independence.

"One man will not achieve Quebec independence," Fontecilla said. "Especially if that man's social and economic vision don't correspond to that of the majority."

Quebecor shares still a problem

Concerns over Pierre Karl Pladeau's media ties

9 years ago

Duration 4:53

New leader of the PQ owns 73% of Quebecor, the province's largest media empire

FranoisBonnardel, amember of Legault's Coalition legislative caucus resurrected criticism over Pladeau's promise to put his Quebecor majoritysharesin a blind trust. Bonnardel said that isn't good enough.

"Pladeau will rapidly have to address his untenable position of being PQ leader and the owner of 40 per cent of Quebec's media," he said.

Meanwhile, Pladeau's predecessors at the PQ helm lined up behind the new leader.

Former premier Bernard Landry, one of Pladeau's strongest supporters, expressed hope the new PQ leader could steer the party to a referendum victory.

"Tonight, he gave us hope," he said Friday night.

Former premier Pauline Marois, who was not present at the vote, sentout a statement congratulating Pladeau and his team.

"I will always be at their sides to convince Quebec citizens to give themselves a country, our country," she wrote.

Former Bloc Qubcois leader Gilles Duceppe said Pladeau had the potential to become a great leader who would attract support from the business community while current Bloc leader Mario Beaulieu said Pladeau's victory was the start of "a new independantist wave."