MONTREAL -- The new head of the Bloc Quebecois says he plans to recapture the hearts of Quebec voters by putting a greater emphasis on independence.

Mario Beaulieu, the former head of the nationalist St. Jean Baptiste Society, won a slim victory Saturday over his only opponent in the party's leadership race, Bloc MP Andre Bellavance.

Beaulieu said explaining the benefits of breaking away from Canada will be his top priority.

"Our adversaries have often announced the death of the independence movement," he told a crowd of supporters at a concert venue in Montreal.

"But I have a surprise for them: we are returning with more determination and energy than ever."

Beaulieu has a difficult task ahead as he tries to rebuild the floundering party.

Beaulieu ruffled some feathers, claiming that for 20 years, Bloc leaders have had a defeatist attitude, and that he will finally do the real work of selling independence.

"Talking about 20 years of defeatism is lying, it's pure demagogy," said flormer Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe. When asked if the comments were insulting, Duceppe said, "to me, to (former leaders) Lucien Bouchard, to Michel Gauthier and to Daniel Paille."
 

Duceppe also took issue with chants from Beaulieu and the crowd of "nous vaincrons" or "we will conquer," a notorious slogan.

"I mean, that was the FLQ (slogan). Come on, be serious," said Duceppe.

The Bloc was reduced to just four seats in the Commons in the 2011 election from the 49 it held after the 2008 vote.

Bellavance had the support of the other three Bloc MPs but Beaulieu campaigned on a promise to make sovereignty a priority above all else.

Beaulieu captured 53.5 per cent of the vote.

Some 19,000 party members were eligible to vote and 58.5 per cent of them cast a ballot in the leadership race.

The previous Bloc leader, Daniel Paille, resigned last December for health reasons. Paille took over from longtime party head Duceppe after the 2011 election.

Political analyst Bruce Hicks said the part has nowhere to go but up.

"He at least will mobilize the diehard separatists and they've got to do that as part of their rebuilding. Now can he change his message once they mobilize their base. That's the interesting thing to watch," he said.

Beaulieu said he plans to build bridges with all Quebecers and promote independence.

"We want independence not against Canadians but for Quebecers," he said.

Beaulieu tweeted Saturday morning, expressing how he is looking forward to working toward Quebec's independence.

 

 


For more on Beaulieu and his ideals, watch his YouTube videos (French only):



 

With files from CTV Montreal