MONTREAL — Gilles Duceppe has put an end to rumours that he will replace Pauline Marois as leader of the Parti Quebecois — at least for now — saying he can’t imagine a return to political life as he works to restore his reputation.
The former Bloc Quebecois leader said Sunday that he plans to devote his time to clearing his name after a Montreal newspaper reported he mishandled public funds while he was head of the federal party.
“I plan to devote myself to defending my integrity and restoring my reputation,” he said in a statement.
“I am therefore unable to consider a return to active politics.”
Duceppe didn’t indicate, however, whether his decision to stay out of politics was permanent.
He wasn’t accepting interview requests Sunday.
La Presse reported on Saturday that Duceppe paid his party’s general manager for seven years with funds designated to run his Ottawa office.
The newspaper said Gilbert Gardner was hired in 2004 to work at the Bloc’s headquarters in Montreal and earned a salary of more than $100,000 in the final years of his term.
One NDP MP said Saturday that the payments would be a violation of parliamentary rules.
Joe Comartin, vice-president of a parliamentary committee on procedure and house affairs, said the House of Commons funds were meant for activities related to Parliament, not for partisan ones.
Duceppe denied any claims of wrongdoing. He said he handled the Bloc’s House of Commons budget with transparency and honesty.
“Everything was done in compliance with the rules,” he said.
Although he stepped down as Bloc leader after the party’s disastrous showing in last May’s election, Duceppe remains an important figure within the sovereignty movement.
Rumours had been swirling that he was working behind the scenes to replace Marois at the head of the struggling PQ.
Duceppe said in the statement he continued to have “complete confidence” in Marois and the provincial party.
A spokeswoman for Marois, who has vowed to stay on as leader until the next election, said she wouldn’t be commenting on Duceppe’s decision.