Former Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau remains at the Jewish General Hospital where he was admitted Monday after a drop in blood pressure brought on by exhaustion, but his condition is improving, the hospital said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
Parizeau, 79, is being kept under observation.
His family is grateful to the public for their support and good wishes, the statement said.
Parizeau, who served as premier from 1994 to 1996, is best known for his role in Quebec's sovereignist movement, leading the "Yes" forces in the 1995 Quebec referendum.
He announced his resignation after blaming the sovereigntist loss in that campaign on money and the ethnic vote, a comment that drew considerable scorn.
Political analyst Jean Lapierre told CTV Montreal reporter Aphrodite Salas that some people see Parizeau's hospitalization at the Jewish General as ironic.
"It's kind of funny. People are making jokes. Mr. Parizeau at the Jewish? Is he going after ethnic votes or is he going after money? Obviously it's a good joke, but I hope he does well and I'm sure he's going to get very good service at the Jewish," Lapierre said.
Lapierre added that Parizeau is getting noticeably weaker.
"The last few times we've seen him, obviously he didn't look that healthy. His age is starting to show and he's never been an athlete. Obviously at 79 he's bound to have some problems, but we hope he recuperates from that," he said.
