Lucien Bouchard (born December 22, 1938) is a Canadian lawyer, diplomat, and politician who served as the 27th Premier of Quebec from 1996 to 2001. He began his federal career as a minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, but famously broke with the government over the Meech Lake Accord, leading him to found the sovereignist Bloc Québécois and become Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons (1993–1996). A lifelong Quebec nationalist, he was a central figure on the "Yes" side of the 1995 Quebec referendum and later succeeded Jacques Parizeau as premier. Born in Saint-Cœur-de-Marie, Quebec, he studied law at Université Laval and served as Canada's ambassador to France before entering elected politics. His career is marked by a dramatic evolution from federal conservative to champion of Quebec independence, making him one of the most influential figures in modern Canadian political history.