Nicknames of politicians and personalities in Quebec

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A custom of Quebecers is to give nicknames to their politicians (and some personalities), quite especially their Premiers. Many of those given to Premiers are affectionate or even express admiration, while others are insulting.

[edit] Nicknames of Quebec Premiers

  • Maurice Duplessis (1936 – 1939 and 1944-1959): Le Chef ("The Leader" or "The Chief"). Often pronounced (and even spelled) "Le Cheuf", to reflect an old-fashion joual pronunciation of the word.
    • Often used disparagingly to evoke Duplessis's perceived despotism. It should be noted however that he apparently used the nickname to refer to himself.
  • Daniel Johnson Sr. (1966 – 1968): Danny Boy.
    • Name given to the portrayal of Johnson as a comical and clueless cowboy in political cartoons drawn by Normand Hudon before Johnson taking power.
  • Robert Bourassa (1970 – 1976 and 1985 – 1994)
    • Boubou.
    • L'homme le plus détesté du Québec ("The most hated man of Quebec").
    • Bourassa I; Bourassa II.
      • Terms historians use to refer to Bourassa and his governments under his first two mandates and his last two mandates as Premier, respectively.
  • René Lévesque (1976 – 1985): Ti-Poil (literally, "Lil' Hair", but more accurately translated as "Baldy").
    • A reminder of his often ruffled comb-over.
  • Jacques Parizeau (1994 – 1995): Monsieur ("Sir").
    • Positive and relatively appreciative reference to his well-known aristocratic pride and assurance. Source of the title of a 2003 documentary, Monsieur about Parizeau.
  • Lucien Bouchard (1996 – 2001): Lulu.
  • Jean Charest (2003 – ): Charest has gained numerous nicknames:
    • Patapouf or Patapouf Premier ("Patapouf the First").
      • The name was rumoured to be a nickname given by Charest's wife, something he denied. It first came to be used in the campaign Destituons Patapouf!, an operation of disgruntled citizens who spread a petition from 2003 to 2004 to have Charest recalled, not unlike California governor Gray Davis. The word is a common name for a clown in Quebec French (like Bozo). Patapouf Premier is a sarcastic variant that paints Charest as a farcical, despotic monarch. It is used mockingly.
    • Le Frisé ("Curly").
      • Referring to his famous curly hair. It is negative. A humorous, mocking song from irony rocker Mononc' Serge about the man is entitled "Le Frisé".
    • Le p'tit Saint-Jean-Baptiste ("Lil' Saint John the Baptist").
    • Le mouton ("The Sheep")
      • Another reference to his curly hair. Additionally, a search for Mouton Insignifiant (insignificant sheep) on Google will hit Jean Charest's official site as first result (in French), due to link farming.
    • Golden Boy

[edit] Similar nicknames

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