QUEBEC - Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois was sworn in as a member of the legislature today and repeated that she wants to make Quebec a country.

Marois told about 200 family and friends at the national assembly she still wants to make Quebec a "free state, a sovereign state.''

But she has put aside setting out any timetable for a sovereignty referendum if the PQ wins the next election and forms the government.

Marois won a byelection on Sept. 24 in the rural riding of Charlevoix, northeast of Quebec City.

She had retired from politics until former PQ leader Andre Boisclair stepped down last May.

Former premier Jacques Parizeau was among those in attendance at today's ceremony.