On 1 October 2018, the Parti Québécois came in third in the Quebec general election, winning only ten seats and 17% of the popular vote, an all-time low. PQ leader Jean-François Lisée announces his resignation as leader after losing his own riding. Pascal Bérubé was named interim leader on 9 October 2018. On 13 December 2019, Bérubé announced that the campaign will start on 1 February 2020 and that the leader would be chosen before 24 June 2020.
Process
The nomination period officially began on March 2 and will end on April 9. To obtain an application form, each aspiring candidate must give the party a non-refundable amount of $10,000. To make their candidacy official, each candidate must submit their ballot signed by at least 2,000 members from at least 9 administrative regions and at least 50 local associations and pay the party a non-refundable amount of $15,000. For the first time, the Parti Québécois will allow both party members and supporters to participate in the election of the leader. Supporters will have to pay $5̩ to obtain the right to vote. Anyone enjoying the status of voter in Quebec can contribute to the campaign of a leadership contestant by paying him an amount that cannot exceed $500. Applicants' maximum campaign expenses cannot exceed $125,000. Two debates were to be organized by the Parti québécois between April 15 and May 20 - one in Montreal and the other in Center-du-Québec, but have been postponed. The voting period was to have begun on June 15 at 9 a.m. and end on June 19 at 3 p.m. but has been delayed until the autumn. Voting will take place by preferential ballot. Thus, a candidate who collects 50% + 1 vote will win. If necessary, a second or even a third round will be held to, after distribution of the 2nd and 3rd choices, choose a winner. The results will be announced by the returning officer, in a location to be determined in the Capitale-Nationale or Chaudière-Appalaches regions.
Candidates
Declared
Frédéric Bastien, historian, collegial history teacher
Alexandre Cloutier, two-time PQ leadership runner-up in the 2015 and 2016, MNA for Lac-Saint-Jean, Minister responsible for the Nord-du-Québec region, Côte-Nord region, Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, the Canadian Francophonie and Sovereignist Governance under Pauline Marois, currently out of politics.
Pierre Plamondon, says if he was premier he would not hesitate to take “forceful measures” to promote French while preserving the rights of the anglophone minority. Plamondon also pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum in a first mandate of a PQ government.
Guy Nantel
Guy Nantel said English would have a “national language minority” status in his Quebec.
