# 2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election

The 2014 Bloc Québécois leadership election was held June 14, 2014 to choose a successor for Daniel Paillé who resigned on December 16, 2013 for health reasons.
Voter turnout in the election was 58.5%, up from the 2011 leadership election, with approximately 19,000 members voted by telephone to elect Daniel Paillé's successor.

## Timeline

* May 2, 2011: Federal election reduces the Bloc Québécois to 4 seats in the House of Commons. Party leader Gilles Duceppe loses his own riding in Laurier—Sainte-Marie and announces his resignation.
* December 11, 2011: Daniel Paillé is elected leader at the party's 2011 leadership election.
* February 27, 2013: Jonquière—Alma MP Claude Patry leaves the New Democratic Party caucus to join the Bloc Québécois.
* September 12, 2013: Ahuntsic MP Maria Mourani is expelled from the Bloc Québécois caucus due to comments against the provincial Parti Québécois government's proposed Quebec Charter of Values.
* December 16, 2013: Paillé resigns the leadership and presidency due to health concerns. Richmond—Arthabaska MP André Bellavance is named interim parliamentary leader, and vice-president Annie Lessard is named the interim president.
* February 22, 2014: André Bellavance announces his candidacy.
* February 26, 2014: André Bellavance resigns as parliamentary leader, and Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia MP Jean-François Fortin is named interim parliamentary leader.
* April 8, 2014: Official start to the leadership race.
* May 7, 2014: Last date for candidates to submit $15,000 entry fee and for candidates to file a nomination form signed by a total of at least 1,000 party members from across at least 25 ridings.
* May 15, 2014: Deadline for membership and renewals.
* May 24, 2014: Candidates debate during BQ policy convention in Rimouski.
* June 11–13, 2014: Party members vote by telephone.
* June 14, 2014: The winner of the leadership election announced.
* June 23–25, 2014: The party holds a convention in Rimouski, where the new leader officially assumes the leadership of the party.

## Official candidates

Candidates who have submitted the $15,000 registration fee and 1,000 signatures gathered from at least 25 ridings.

### Mario Beaulieu
#### Background

* Leader of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (2009–2014).

#### Positions

Bealieu argues that the BQ should more strongly emphasize Quebec independence and accuses Bellavance of wanting to water down sovereignty to win votes.
    Date campaign announced: April 28, 2014
    Date officially registered: May 7, 2014

#### Supporters

* Prominent supporters: Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec; Djemila Benhabib, essayist and former Parti Québécois candidate; Lucie Laurier, actress; national executive of the Forum jeunesse du Bloc Québécois (Bloc Quebecois youth wing); Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc youth wing president; Yves Beauchemin, author

### André Bellavance
#### Background

* MP for Richmond—Arthabaska (2004–present)
* Leader of the party in the House of Commons (2013–2014)

#### Positions

Has said that for the Bloc to revive itself it must become more than a coalition of sovereigntists.
    Date campaign announced: February 22, 2014
    Date officially registered: May 5, 2014

#### Supporters

* MPs: (3) Jean-François Fortin, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; Claude Patry, Jonquière—Alma; Louis Plamondon, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour
* Former MPs: Daniel Turp
* Others: Vivian Barbot, former president of the party; and some 30 former Bloc MPs

## Declined

* Pierre Curzi, former MNA for Borduas (2007–2012)
* Gilles Duceppe, former MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie (1990–2011) and Bloc Québécois leader (1997–2011)
* Pierre Duchesne, former Quebec Minister of Higher Education and MNA for Borduas (2012–2014)
* Jean-François Fortin, MP for Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
* Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec (2001–2003)
* Pierre Paquette, former MP for Joliette (2000–2011)
* Daniel Turp, former MP for Beauharnois—Salaberry (1997-2000) and MNA for Mercier (2003-2008).

## Results

Support by Ballot :
| Candidate | 1st ballot | 1st ballot |
| Candidate | Votes cast | % |
| BEAULIEU, Mario | ~5947 | 53.5% |
| BELLAVANCE, André | ~5168 | 46.5% |
| Total | TBA | 100.0% |