The PQ leadership debates have come to an end, as the four remaining contenders for the top job wrapped up the last of their five duels Thursday at the Corona Theatre in St. Henri.
No competitor was swinging too hard in the final chinwag, in a race which is expected to be won by frontrunner Pierre Karl Peladeau, as voting online and by phone begins next Wednesday and a winner could be declared as earlier as next Friday.
If no candidate gets over 50 percent, a second ballot will take place between the top two candidates.
Challengers Alexandre Cloutier repeated his familiar message of inclusion, as he urged the nationalist movement to open up to minorities. Martine Ouellet, who has the support of three MNAs, continued to present herself as a possible second-ballot threat.
Voices were only briefly raised when Pierre Cere took aim at Cloutier's vow to allow the crucifix-in-the-National Assembly issue go to free vote. Cere defended the presence of the religious symbol.
Cere, however, conceded that he’s unsure his name will be on the final ballot, as the $20,000 required to keep him in the race is hard to come by.
In one notable moment Peladeau accused federally-appointed judges of “emasculating” Quebec’s ability to protect the French language.
Candidate Bernard Drainville dropped out on April 22 and threw his support to Peladeau. Jean-Francois Lisee dropped out on January 23 and also offered support to Peladeau.
The latest Leger poll of from April 9 gave Peladeau 26 percent, Cloutier 20, Drainville eight percent, Ouellet four percent, Cere one percent, none of the above 20 percent and no ansewr 22 percent.
Among PQ members Peladeau led with 59 percent, Cloutier had 13, Drainville nine, Ouellet four, Cere one, none of the above one percent and no answer 13 percent.
