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QUEBEC - A single red flower sat at an otherwise empty spot at the Quebec cabinet table Wednesday.
Ministers in the provincial government stared sadly at that spot, which would usually have been occupied by colleague Claude Bechard.
But this was the first cabinet meeting after Bechard's death from cancer on Tuesday at the age of 41.
Cabinet members left the room with tears in their eyes and their voices quivering as they paid tribute to Bechard, who held the agriculture and intergovernmental affairs portfolios until shortly before his death.
"The hardest thing is trying to grasp the fact that we'll never see him again," said deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau, her voice shaking.
Premier Jean Charest declared there will be a state funeral on Saturday. A book of condolences is also available for people to sign at the legislature. Meanwhile, flags are flying at half-mast near the national assembly.
The premier, for the first time, publicly said Bechard could have been his successor one day. Charest delivered a stirring tribute to the man he considered a friend and potential heir.
"It was legitimate for him to think that he could someday be premier of Quebec," Charest said.
"And if that had been the case, he would have been an extraordinary leader for this province. . .
"He was the kind of person who had all the talent, all the courage to be able to dream, and Claude had that capacity to dream."
Charest revealed at least one major point of contention with his younger colleague: he said he opposed his minister's decision to keep working while battling cancer.
He said he offered to relieve Bechard of his duties so he could focus on getting better. But Bechard refused and wanted to keep working until the end.
Finally, last week, Bechard invited his boss to the Quebec City hospital where he lay on his deathbed. He informed the premier the time had come to call it quits.
A statement was issued Tuesday morning announcing Bechard's retirement from politics. A few hours later, he was pronounced dead.
"Before politics, there is life," Charest said.
"And for Claude, politics was his life."
Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer and won the Tour de France cycling race seven times, tweeted about Bechard's death.
''Sad to hear about the passing of Claude Bechard,'' Armstrong wrote. ''41 is way too young. May he rest in peace.''
Bechard's portfolios will be divided by a pair of current ministers. Normandeau will handle intergovernmental affairs in addition to her duties as natural resources minister, while Municipal Affairs Minister Laurent Lessard will take over the agriculture file.
