biography
| name: |
Chrétien, (Joseph Jacques) Jean
|
pronunciation:
[kraytyen]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1934– )
|
| biography:
| Canadian statesman and prime minister (1993– ), born in Shawinigan, Quebec, SE Canada. He studied at Laval University, was called to the bar, and elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal in 1963. He has occupied a range of portfolios, including minister of state and minister of national revenue in Lester B Pearson's cabinet, and minister of finance, justice, and others in Pierre Trudeau's cabinet. Known as ‘the little guy from Shawinigan’, and making use of a folksy and engaging style, he has been a popular politician. In 1990 he became leader of the Liberal Party, and prime minister when his party won the 1993 general election, he was returned to power for a second term in 1997, and again in the general election of 2000. He is an opponent of Quebec separatism. |
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