2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election

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AB Candidate Mario Beaulieu André Bellavance Riding N/A Richmond—Arthabaska Votes 5,947 5,168 Percentage 53.5% 46.5%

Leader before election Vacant Elected Leader Mario Beaulieu

The2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election was held June 14, 2014 to choose a successor forDaniel Paillé who resigned on December 16, 2013 for health reasons.^[1][2]

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.^[3]

• February 27 –Jonquière—Alma MPClaude Patry leaves theNew Democratic Party caucus to join the Bloc Québécois.^[4]
• September 12 –Ahuntsic MPMaria Mourani is expelled from the Bloc Québécois caucus due to comments against the provincialParti Québécois government's proposedQuebec Charter of Values.^[5]
• December 16 – Paillé resigns the leadership and presidency due to health concerns.Richmond—Arthabaska MPAndré Bellavance is named interim parliamentary leader, and vice-president Annie Lessard is named the interim president.^[1]

• February 22 – Bellavance announces his candidacy.
• February 26 – Bellavance resigns as parliamentary leader, andHaute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia MPJean-François Fortin is named interim parliamentary leader.^[6][7]
• April 8 – Official start to the leadership race.^[2]
• May 7 – 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.^[2]
• May 15 – Deadline for membership and renewals.^[8]
• May 24 – Candidates debate during BQ policy convention in Rimouski.^[9]
• June 11–13 – Party members vote by telephone.^[8]
• June 14 – The winner of the leadership election announced.^[2]
• June 23–25 – The party holds a convention inRimouski, where the new leader officially assumes the leadership of the party.^[2]

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

Background

• Leader of theSociété Saint-Jean-Baptiste (2009–2014).

Positions

Bealieu argues that the BQ should more strongly emphasize Quebec independence and accuses Bellavance of wanting to water down sovereignty to win votes.^[10]

Date campaign announced: April 28, 2014^[11]

Date officially registered: May 7, 2014^[12]

Endorsements

• Prominent individuals:Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec;^[13]Djemila Benhabib, essayist and former Parti Québécois candidate;^[13]Lucie Laurier, actress; national executive of theForum jeunesse du Bloc Québécois (Bloc Quebecois youth wing);^[14]Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc youth wing president;Yves Beauchemin, author^[10]

Background

• MP forRichmond—Arthabaska (2004–2015)
• Leader of the party in the House of Commons (2013–2014)^[6]

Positions

Has said that for the Bloc to revive itself it must become more than a coalition of sovereigntists.^[10]

Date campaign announced: February 22, 2014^[15]

Date officially registered: May 5, 2014^[16]

Endorsements

• MPs: (3)Jean-François Fortin,Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia;Claude Patry,Jonquière—Alma;Louis Plamondon,Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour^[15]
• Former MPs:Daniel Turp^[10]
• Others:Vivian Barbot, former president of the party; and some 30 former Bloc MPs^[17]

• Pierre Curzi, former MNA forBorduas (2007–2012)^[18]
• Gilles Duceppe, former MP forLaurier—Sainte-Marie (1990–2011) and Bloc Québécois leader (1997–2011)^[19]
• Pierre Duchesne, former Quebec Minister of Higher Education and MNA forBorduas (2012–2014)^[20][21]
• Jean-François Fortin, MP forHaute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia^[15]
• Bernard Landry, formerPremier of Quebec (2001–2003)^[19]
• Pierre Paquette, former MP forJoliette (2000–2011)^[19]
• Daniel Turp, former MP forBeauharnois—Salaberry (1997–2000) and MNA forMercier (2003–2008).^[10][22]

• 2011 Bloc Québécois leadership election
• 42nd Canadian federal election

• Bloc Québécois leadership elections
• 2014 elections in Canada
• 2014 in Quebec
• 2014 political party leadership elections

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