Gilles from the Bloc: Twitter weighs in on Duceppe comeback
Twitter floods with confusion, speculation and excitement on news of Duceppe's return
Quebecers woke up to a surprise this morning with news that former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe will return as the party's leader.
Duceppe quit as leader following the 2011 federal election, when he led the party to a crushing defeat. The BQ seat count dropped from 47 to four. Duceppe lost his seat to the NDP.
Twitter flooded with confusion, speculation and excitement Tuesday on news of Duceppe's return.
A 'midlife crisis'?
The comeback caught a lot of people off guard. Many wondered exactly why the 67-year-old would chose to come back as a politician, especially after the 2011 defeat. After all, Duceppe insisted he was done with politics back in 2012.
Gilles Duceppe is back? I swear, if dad starts feeling the itch, I'm sending him for an MRI...
—@BenMulroneyThis might sound mean-spirited, but does anybody else get a midlife crisis vibe from this whole Gilles Duceppe comeback thing? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@SDomenie100 days to the campaign. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Duceppe?src=hash">#Duceppe</a> move seems Napoleonic. I don't think this will be good for his legacy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Duceppes100Days?src=hash">#Duceppes100Days</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@mathewhupfieldDuceppe's never-ending political saga likened some comparisons to television series like Game of Thrones and The X-Files.
I'm a little unclear about Gilles Duceppe leading the Bloc. Is there an election or is it a Game of Thrones thing? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@stephenlautensI don’t think it’s a coincidence that The X-Files and Gilles Duceppe are making a comeback in the same year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@NewfKarlMarxA shot of entertainment and frankness
There's no denying Duceppe infused entertainment into federal politics. He is particularly remembered for his feisty performances during the French election debates. Others recalled him for his frankness.
Tuesday's news made some excited for a Duceppe comeback.
i feel like my favourite tv show was just brought back for another season <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/duceppe?src=hash">#duceppe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@laumicantI like Gilles Duceppe. I don’t agree with his cause, but he is straightforward and truthful, which is too rare in Canadian politics.
—@Ken_DonnellyThis Twitter user even decided to make fan art, crudely depicting Duceppe as a member of the Star Wars cast. Looks like the political saga will continue.
Return of the Gilles <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Duceppe?src=hash">#Duceppe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/polcan?src=hash">#polcan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/starwars?src=hash">#starwars</a> <a href="http://t.co/fB4CjArtyj">pic.twitter.com/fB4CjArtyj</a>
—@PCGRushThere was also hope for the return of the hair net, a reference to the infamous headpiece Duceppe wore during a visit to a Quebec cheese factory in 1997.
June 9, 1997: On a visit to a cheese factory, Gilles Duceppe's hairnet raises eyebrows <a href="http://t.co/SmtN7Pofpy">http://t.co/SmtN7Pofpy</a> <a href="http://t.co/TbU9PaqbbU">pic.twitter.com/TbU9PaqbbU</a>
—@cbc_archivesWill it hurt other parties?
It's too early to say how Duceppe's return will impact other political parties in Quebec. But that didn't stop Twitter users from speculating.
The NDP made a massive surge in Quebec during the last election, winning 58 of the province's 75 seats. Some wondered if Duceppe could regain those seats.
Too early to tell what the impact of Duceppe's return will be, but this has to be bad news for the NDP. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@ericjhendryGiles Duceppe might be just the right thorn in Harper's side for the French debates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cndpoli?src=hash">#cndpoli</a>
—@MatSnowieOthers thought the move would benefit the Conservatives and the Liberals.
I liked Duceppe, but this would really throw a wrench into the next election & further split the centre-left. Harper's smiling. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@parismarxThe return of Giles Duceppe is great news for Justin Trudeau. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canpoli?src=hash">#canpoli</a>
—@derekpford