Former Parti Québécois premier Lucien Bouchard is urging current leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to reconsider his promise to hold a sovereignty referendum in his first mandate if elected premier, warning the pledge could cost the party power.

Bouchard, who co-led the Yes side in the 1995 referendum, made the comments in an interview with Radio-Canada on Wednesday. He had been invited to discuss stalled negotiations with the Quebec federation of medical specialists, where he is a negotiator, but was pressed on the sovereignty issue.

“I wouldn’t want to harm him, but I think (St-Pierre Plamondon) will have to think seriously before maintaining his commitment to holding a referendum,” Bouchard said.

He added that such a promise would be a “gift” to the Quebec Liberal Party, which would us

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