2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election

The 2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election was held June 14, 2014 to choose a successor for Daniel Paillé who resigned on December 16, 2013 for health reasons.

Voter turnout in the election was 58.5%, up from the 2011 leadership election, with approximately 19,000 members voted by telephone to elect Daniel Paillé's successor.

Timeline

 * May 2, 2011: Federal election reduces the Bloc Québécois to 4 seats in the House of Commons. Party leader Gilles Duceppe loses his own riding in Laurier—Sainte-Marie and announces his resignation.
 * December 11, 2011: Daniel Paillé is elected leader at the party's 2011 leadership election.
 * February 27, 2013: Jonquière—Alma MP Claude Patry leaves the New Democratic Party caucus to join the Bloc Québécois.
 * September 12, 2013: Ahuntsic MP Maria Mourani is expelled from the Bloc Québécois caucus due to comments against the provincial Parti Québécois government's proposed Quebec Charter of Values.
 * December 16, 2013: Paillé resigns the leadership and presidency due to health concerns. Richmond—Arthabaska MP André Bellavance is named interim parliamentary leader, and vice-president Annie Lessard is named the interim president.
 * February 22, 2014: André Bellavance announces his candidacy.
 * February 26, 2014: André Bellavance resigns as parliamentary leader, and Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia MP Jean-François Fortin is named interim parliamentary leader.
 * April 8, 2014: Official start to the leadership race.
 * May 7, 2014: Last date for candidates to submit $15,000 entry fee and for candidates to file a nomination form signed by a total of at least 1,000 party members from across at least 25 ridings.
 * May 15, 2014: Deadline for membership and renewals.
 * May 24, 2014: Candidates debate during BQ policy convention in Rimouski.
 * June 11–13, 2014: Party members vote by telephone.
 * June 14, 2014: The winner of the leadership election announced.
 * June 23–25, 2014: The party holds a convention in Rimouski, where the new leader officially assumes the leadership of the party.

Official candidates
Candidates who have submitted the $15,000 registration fee and 1,000 signatures gathered from at least 25 ridings.

Mario Beaulieu

 * Background
 * Leader of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (2009–2014).

Bealieu argues that the BQ should more strongly emphasize Quebec independence and accuses Bellavance of wanting to water down sovereignty to win votes.
 * Positions


 * Date campaign announced:  April 28, 2014
 * Date officially registered: May 7, 2014


 * Supporters
 * Prominent supporters: Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec; Djemila Benhabib, essayist and former Parti Québécois candidate; Lucie Laurier, actress; national executive of the Forum jeunesse du Bloc Québécois (Bloc Quebecois youth wing); Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc youth wing president; Yves Beauchemin, author

André Bellavance

 * Background
 * MP for Richmond—Arthabaska (2004–present)
 * Leader of the party in the House of Commons (2013–2014)

Has said that for the Bloc to revive itself it must become more than a coalition of sovereigntists.
 * Positions


 * Date campaign announced:  February 22, 2014
 * Date officially registered: May 5, 2014


 * Supporters
 * MPs: (3) Jean-François Fortin, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; Claude Patry, Jonquière—Alma; Louis Plamondon, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour
 * Former MPs: Daniel Turp
 * Others: Vivian Barbot, former president of the party; and some 30 former Bloc MPs

Declined

 * Pierre Curzi, former MNA for Borduas (2007–2012)
 * Gilles Duceppe, former MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie (1990–2011) and Bloc Québécois leader (1997–2011)
 * Pierre Duchesne, former Quebec Minister of Higher Education and MNA for Borduas (2012–2014)
 * Jean-François Fortin, MP for Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
 * Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec (2001–2003)
 * Pierre Paquette, former MP for Joliette (2000–2011)
 * Daniel Turp, former MP for Beauharnois—Salaberry (1997-2000) and MNA for Mercier (2003-2008).