Option nationale

Option nationale
Leader Sol Zanetti
President Jocelyn Beaudoin
Founded 31 October 2011 (2011-10-31)
Split from Parti Québécois
Headquarters C.P. 99030 CSP du Tremblay, Longueuil, Québec, J4N 0A5
Ideology Quebec sovereigntism,
Quebec nationalism,
Progressivism,
Social democracy
Social liberalism
Political position Centre-left[1]
Seats in the National Assembly
0 / 125
Website
www.optionnationale.org

Option nationale, registered as Option nationale - Pour l'indépendance du Québec (National Option - For the Independence of Quebec), is a centre-left[1] provincial political party in Quebec, Canada. It advocates the sovereignty of Quebec from Canada, and says a vote for Option nationale is an electoral mandate for full-fledged autonomy (de facto sovereignty), before a referendum to adopt the constitution of Quebec as an independent state (de jure sovereignty).

History

It was founded in 2011 by Jean-Martin Aussant, a member of the National Assembly (MNA) who had quit the Parti Québécois (PQ) earlier that year after being elected in 2008.

The party had planned to use the name "Option Québec", as a nod to René Lévesque's 1968 manifesto An Option for Quebec, but it was already taken by another group.[2]

In August 2011, before the party was founded, Aussant was courted by the Parti Indépendantiste, with leader Eric Tremblay hoping to have his first Member of the National Assembly. Aussant refused however, saying he disagreed with the party's position on reducing immigration, and with the view of the party that the 1995 referendum was lost because of "anglophone and ethnic votes". Aussant insists that economic fears propagated by federalists were responsible for the referendum defeat.[3]

Shortly after the creation of Option nationale, Lisette Lapointe, wife of former Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau, acquired a membership card from the party,[4] but decided to continue sitting as an independent until the end of her term, and did not run for reelection in the 2012 provincial election.[5]

During the campaign of the 2012 general election, bilingual journalist Dan Delmar of the National Post commented:

Although the party led by former Péquiste Jean-Martin Aussant is desperate to breakaway from Canada, he is going about the project in a civilized manner. Aussant speaks near-perfect English, which is uncommon for post-Bernard Landry sovereignist leaders. And in a somewhat stunning development, he posted a YouTube video pitching sovereignty to Anglophones — in English! His brand of inclusive sovereignty is refreshing.[6]

On June 19, 2013, Jean-Martin Aussant resigned as leader of Option nationale, and Nathaly Dufour became interim leader. On October 26, 2013, Sol Zanetti became the new leader of Option nationale.[7]

Election results

Election Seats won Candidates Popular vote Popular vote (%) Legislative role Party leader
2012 0 120 82,535 1.89% No representation in National Assembly Jean-Martin Aussant
2014 0 116 30,720 0.73% No representation in National Assembly Sol Zanetti

References

  1. 1 2 Dominique Auzias; Jean-Paul Labourdette; Collectif (15 March 2013). Québec 2013-2014 Petit Futé (avec cartes, photos + avis des lecteurs). Petit Futé. pp. 35–. ISBN 2-7469-6808-8.
  2. ↑ Former PQ MNA files papers to start sovereignist party. The Gazette
  3. ↑ Bussières, Ian (August 8, 2011). "Jean-Martin Aussant dit oui au pays, mais non au Parti indépendantiste". Le Soleil. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Lisette Lapointe rallie l'Option nationale". TVA, November 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Lisette Lapointe dit non à Option nationale". Le Nouvelliste, March 5, 2012.
  6. ↑ Tout le Quebec en parle: On anglo-sovereignty, fighting corruption and immigrants. National Post, August 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Sol Zanetti nouveau chef d'Option nationale" (in French). Radio-Canada. October 26, 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
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