he served as vice-president of the national assembly during his third term of office from 1989 to 1994, assistant whip of the opposition from 1994 to 1997 and third vice-president of the national assembly during his fifth term from 1999 to 2003. he became the president of the national assembly (speaker of the house) after the liberal victory in 2003. in 2007, bissonnet was reconfirmed as president of the national assembly.