Lisée picks up much needed 5th MNA

After initially opting to stay neutral, eastern Quebec MNA Pascal Bérubé has switched gears and will back candidate Jean-François Lisée for the Parti Québécois leadership.

Bérubé’s support comes at a critical time for Lisée who has taken a beating in the media over the last few days for his decision to play the identity political card to the hilt — even touching off a storm by linking his rival, Alexandre Cloutier, to Islamic activist Adil Charkaoui.

Some analysts had started to write off Lisée’s chances because he has irritated too many party members. But on Sunday at a debate in the Saguenay, Lisée and the other candidates tried to tone down the campaign. The next debate is Saturday in Montreal.

Bérubé becomes the fifth PQ MNA to sign on with the Lisée campaign. “I will be with Lisée from now on,” Bérubé tweeted Monday.

Bérubé, the MNA for the riding of Matane-Matapédia, was the first person to back former leader Pierre Karl Péladeau in the last leadership race in 2014 and rapidly assumed the role of Péladeau’s lieutenant. Bérubé is considered a top rate political organizer.

Cloutier has 13 PQ MNAs on his team. The other candidates, Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon and Martine Ouellet have none.

The leader is to be elected by card-carrying PQ members Oct. 7 in Lévis.