Former Parti Quebecois cabinet minister Yves-Francois Blanchet formally launched his bid to become the new leader of the Bloc Quebecois on Saturday.
Blanchet initially announced his intention to succeed the controversial Martine Ouellet in November.
Several of the Bloc’s MPs were in attendance when Blanchet made the announcement in Montreal. So far, nine out of the party’s 10 MPs have announced their support for him.
No other candidates have so far stepped forward. MP Michel Bourdrias, the only member of the Bloc caucus to not announce their support for Blanchet, had been rumoured to be interested in running, but announced last week he would not do so.
Prospective candidates have one month to raise $15,000 and get 500 signatures in at least 15 ridings. If no one else comes forward, Blanchet will become party leader on Jan. 15.
The Bloc has been without a permanent leader since Ouellet stepped down in June amid infighting over her leadership style. During her tenure, half of the Bloc’s MPs left the party to sit as independents, though they returned after her resignation.
Despite an invitation, none of the MNAs for Quebec Solidaire were in attendance. A party representative said QS co-spokesperson Manon Masse had received an invitation on Friday, but had prior commitments, and none of the nine other MNAs had been invited.
A Bloc spokesperson said invitations to all QS members, including Masse and co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, had been sent by email.
