Politician From Quebec Has Leg Amputated

Lucien Bouchard, a charismatic Quebec separatist hoping to help lead the mainly French-speaking province to independence as soon as next year, had his left leg amputated Thursday after he developed an infection, possibly from the so-called flesh-eating bacteria.

Bouchard, 55, was reported in serious but stable condition in intensive care at Saint Luc Hospital in Montreal. He entered the hospital Tuesday for treatment of phlebitis.

A hospital statement said an infection developed that forced the amputation. Two television stations reported that Bouchard was afflicted with necrotizing fasciitis, which rapidly destroys skin and tissue. There was no immediate confirmation from the hospital.

Bouchard’s wife, Audrey Best Bouchard, an American who grew up in Orange County, was at the hospital. The couple, who married in 1989, have two children.

Bouchard is extremely popular in Quebec but widely despised in the rest of Canada as the man who wants to break up the country. His Bloc Quebecois won 54 seats in Parliament in last year’s election, making it the second-largest party after the ruling Liberals.

Bouchard shares stewardship of the separatist movement with Jacques Parizeau, Quebec’s premier, and has been tapped for a starring role in the province-wide campaign expected next year in anticipation of a referendum on independence.

The separatists believe voter endorsement of Quebec independence will pave the way for separation.

A visibly shaken Parizeau appeared on television and directed his comments to Bouchard. “Old friend, hold on and show the same courage you have shown so often in the past,” he said.

Bouchard’s leading opponent, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, issued a statement from Paris, where he was attending a conference on AIDS. “At moments like this, we put political differences aside to express our personal solidarity with the suffering of a fellow human being,” he said.