1997 Bloc Québécois leadership election

The 1997 Bloc Québécois leadership election was the leadership election that picked the new leader to replace Michel Gauthier as leader. The leadership election was conducted by a one member, one vote (OMOV) process involving all party members. Voters were asked to list their first, second and third choices on the ballot. Bloc MP Gilles Duceppe won the leadership election.^[1]

1997 Bloc Québécois leadership election

← 1996 March 15, 1997 2011 →

YD Candidate Gilles Duceppe Yves Duhaime Riding Laurier—Sainte-Marie N/A[lower-alpha 1] Final ballot 25,561 (52.77%) 16,408 (33.87%) First ballot 21,268 (43.91%) 16,408 (33.87%)   RB Candidate Rodrigue Biron Francine Lalonde Riding N/A[lower-alpha 2] Mercier Final ballot 6,468 (13.35%) Eliminated First ballot 6,468 (13.35%) 2,671 (5.51%)

Leader before election Michel Gauthier Elected Leader Gilles Duceppe

1997 Bloc Québécois leadership election

Date	March 15, 1997
Resigning leader	Michel Gauthier
Won by	Gilles Duceppe
Ballots	2
Candidates	6
Bloc Québécois leadership elections 1996 · 1997 · 2011 · 2014 · 2017 · 2019

Timeline

• February 17, 1996: Michel Gauthier became leader of the Bloc Québécois.^[2]
• March 15, 1997: Gilles Duceppe won the leadership election on the 2nd ballot.^[3]

Candidates

Name		Riding	Notes	Source
Gilles Duceppe		Laurier—Sainte-Marie	Became first Member of Parliament under the "Bloc Québécois banner" by winning a by-election in 1990 in the riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie.	[1]
Yves Duhaime			MNA, District of Saint-Maurice 1976–1985	[3]
Rodrigue Biron			Leader of the Union Nationale 1976-1980	[3]
Francine Lalonde			Member of Parliament Joined party on October 25, 1993	[3]
Daniel Turp				[3]
Pierrette Venne			Member of Parliament Joined party on August 12, 1991	[3]

Result

Support by Ballot

Candidate		1st ballot		2nd ballot
		Votes cast	%	Votes cast	%
	DUCEPPE, Gilles	21,268	43.91%	25,561	52.77%
	DUHAIME, Yves	16,408	33.87%	16,408	33.87%
	BIRON, Rodrique	6,468	13.35%	6,468	13.35%
	LALONDE, Francine	2,671	5.51%	Eliminated
	TURP, Daniel	1,081	2.23%	Eliminated
	VENNE, Pierette	541	1.12%	Eliminated
Total		48,437	100.0%	48,437	100.0%

Notes

1. Former member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Saint-Maurice.
2. Former member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Lotbinière.

Sources

1. "The Bloc Québécois through the years". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
2. "LEADERSHIP ROLES". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
3. "Leadership Conventions". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2011.