- Étapisme
Étapisme (French for: "Gradualism") is the term for a strategy for independence dominant in the
Parti Québécois since 1974. It is associated with the figure ofClaude Morin , who convinced Parti Québécois leaderRené Lévesque and eventually a majority of party delegates to adopt its principles. Proponents of the strategy are called "étapistes".It advocates a step-by-step approach to achieving independence. Before 1974, the Parti Québécois programme stipulated that independence would be declared upon electing a majority of Parti Québécois Members of the
National Assembly of Quebec (MNAs), under Quebec's first-past-the-post electoral system and itsBritish parliamentary system . Under "étapisme", the Parti Québécois would promise a "good government" first and propose a referendum on independence second.At the first referendum of 1980, "étapisme" was also implemented in the referendum process, since the question asked for a mandate to negotiate
sovereignty-association with Canada with the commitment to hold a second referendum to ratify the resulting agreement. Ratification in a second referendum would not be proposed again in the referendum of 1995.From time to time, this approach has been challenged by hardliners. Two of the most famous challenges to "étapisme" were at the 1981 National Congress, colloquially known as the "
Renérendum " (because René Lévesque put his leadership in question in an internal vote on the question), and with the so-calledParizeau-Laplante Proposition of the 2000s.See also
* SNP gradualism (similar strategy in the Scottish National Party)
*Gradualism
*Incrementalism
*Quebec sovereignty movement
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