The paperwork has been filed, and now Francois Legault is in the final stages of forming an official political party.
The party's name – le Coalition pour l'avenir du Quebec – was approved by the Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday.
The application for authorization is a legal procedure needed before creating a full-fledged political party; Legault said he will officially announce on Nov. 14 whether he plans to run as leader.
Legault has spent the past few months touring the province, meeting Quebecers and presenting several ideas about new directions for governing the province.
Legault suggests his party will be right of centre on economics, left of centre on social policy, and nowhere on the issue of Quebec independence.
Legault says that, after 40 years, it's time to shelve the independence debate that has divided Quebecers.
He says he still considers himself a Quebec sovereigntist -- but he would rather work with Quebecers of all stripes to tackle the social and economic challenges the province faces.
He promises not to hold a sovereignty referendum if he's elected.
Final step
The last step in the legal process is for the electoral officer to approve the names of the signatures on Legault's ballot, which is set to occur on Friday.
Elections Quebec official Denis Dion said he isn't concerned about the final hurdle.
"We have to have the confirmation that all those people who signed the membership card are really the people who did that. They are real supporters of the future party," he said.
Despite not being an official party yet, multiple polls show Legault is one of the most popular political figures in Quebec, well ahead of Premier Jean Charest and official opposition leader Pauline Marois, although a recent Leger Marketing poll suggests that former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe would win an election if it were held today.
Party lacks funds
Despite the support, Legault's team has a major hurdle to jump: funding.
"The money which has been collected until now, but it can't be transferred to the new party," said Dion.
A lack of funds is the main reason why Legault's team says it's unlikely they'll have a candidate run in the Bonaventure by-election, a seat vacated when deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau stepped down in September.
Though the Liberals say a by-election will be called soon, Legault says he won't have anyone run if it falls before the end of 2011.
National Assembly reacts
Pauline Marois had little to say about Legault's party Tuesday, commenting only with, "I have no reaction to Mr. Legault today."
Liberal ministers, however, said he could now be held accountable to the issues he was addressing in a series of recent talks throughout the province.
"We are very happy that he's in the arena. Now he should answer all the questions in Quebec's interest," said Sam Hamad, Quebec's economic development minister.
Health Minister Yves Bolduc said he looked forward to Legault's health platform.
"It is time that he said to the Quebecois and to everyone what he wants to do with the health system, (and) what he wants to do with the education system," he said.
As to whether any current MNAs would cross the floor, Liberals Daniel Bernard and Gerry Sklavounos said they doubted it would happen, though PQ MNA Marie Bouillé reacted with more trepidation. When asked if she though PQ members would migrate to Legault's party, she said, "Well… I hope not. I hope not."
