Jean-Francois Lisee elected Parti Quebecois leader on second round

His strategy of not wanting a referendum in a first PQ mandate paid off at a time when polls consistently suggest Quebecers are not keen on another plebiscite on the province’s political future.

But Lisee, as with all PQ leaders, had no choice but to tell party members sovereignty is still front and centre in his mind.

“The PQ is here to stay.” he said in his victory speech. “The independence project is irreducible.

“We, supporters of independence, our dream is more alive than ever. We know we don’t have to ask anyone permission except ourselves. We know Quebec will be present on the world stage. We know the future belongs to us. We know that tonight, the road to victory lies ahead of us.”

Lisee, a member of the legislature since 2012 and international relations minister between 2012 and 2014 , has a law degree and a master’s in communications from Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

His campaign focused on immigration and identity issues and raised the ire of opponents and younger voters who saw him playing on fears and divisions in society.

He argued immigration has not been a great benefit to Quebec and that the province needs to reduce the number of immigrants it accepts every year in order to better integrate them.

Cloutier, 39, began the campaign as the heavy favourite but was attacked as the candidate of the party establishment.

He finished with 31.7 per cent of the vote on the second ballot, while Martine Ouellet ended up with 17.7 per cent. Plamondon dropped out after the first round when he finished fourth.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Jean-Francois Lisee elected Parti Quebecois leader on second round

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