 His nomination was controversial, and resulted in the federal New Democratic Party denouncing its former provincial wing (ties between the two parties had been severed in 1989) and seeking legal options in an attempt to force the provincial party to change its name.The NDPQ changed its name to the Parti de la démocratie socialiste in 1994, and Rose was elected its leader in 1996.He led the party until 2002 when it joined the Union des forces progressistes.