New PQ leader pledges to modernize, boost party leadership

QUEBEC — Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, a 43-year old lawyer on his second run at the job, has been elected the leader of the Parti Québécois, becoming the 10th person to head the party in its 52-year history.

At a virtual leadership convention, Plamondon took the crown on the third ballot with 56.02 per cent of the vote, beating his nearest opponent, former PQ cabinet minister Sylvain Gaudreault, the MNA for the riding of Jonquière.

Touted at the start of the year-long campaign as the man to beat, Gaudreault’s support faltered in the crunch with him finishing second with 43.98 per cent of the vote.

The other two candidates, Dawson College professor Frédéric Bastien and standup comedian Guy Nantel bit the dust early. Bastien went down in the first round of voting with 10.23 per cent of votes and Nantel on the second with 23.32 per cent.

Plamondon, who campaigned as the man who could modernize and boost the membership of the struggling PQ, rapidly moved to heal any wounds left from the race by saying he will find room for everyone.

He will lead the party from outside the National Assembly, as he does not currently have a seat.

Premier François Legault rapidly congratulated him in a tweet.

In his victory speech, he offered a little to everyone, party members in favour of independence and the many nationalists the party used to count on to win elections but which are now in the hands of the Coalition Avenir Québec.

“The dream (of independence) is not dead,” Plamondon said. “It is being reborn.”

He said it is possible to marry nationalism and social justice.

“Ironically, in 2020 the challenge is to be maîtres chez nous,” Plamondon said, borrowing the famous slogan used by former premier Jean Lesage in the 1960 election.

“I invite all nationalists in exile. The PQ is your home.”