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Option nationale

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Option nationale
LeaderSol Zanetti
FounderJean-Martin Aussant
FoundedOctober 31, 2011 (2011-10-31)
DissolvedJanuary 1, 2018 (2018-01-01)
Split fromParti Québécois
Merged intoQuébec solidaire
HeadquartersLongueuil, Quebec
IdeologyQuebec sovereigntism
Quebec nationalism
Progressivism
Social democracy
Social liberalism
Political positionCentre-left[1]
Website
www.optionnationale.org

Option nationale (French pronunciation: [ɔpsjɔ̃ nasjɔnal]), registered as Option nationale – Pour l'indépendance du Québec (National Option – For the Independence of Quebec), was a centre-left and left-wing nationalist political party in Quebec, Canada.[1] It advocated for the sovereignty of Quebec from Canada, and said a vote for Option nationale is an electoral mandate for full-fledged autonomy (de facto sovereignty), before holding a referendum to adopt the constitution of Quebec as an independent state (de jure sovereignty). It merged with Québec solidaire on January 1, 2018 to become a collective within the party.

History

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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, columnist Dan Delmar of the National Post commented:

Although the party led by former Péquiste Jean-Martin Aussant is desperate to breakaway [sic] 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]

It merged with Québec solidaire on January 1, 2018 to become a collective within the party.

Election results

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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

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  1. ^ a b Dominique Auzias; Jean-Paul Labourdette; Collectif (March 15, 2013). Québec 2013–2014 Petit Futé (avec cartes, photos + avis des lecteurs). Petit Futé. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-2-7469-6808-0.
  2. ^ Doughterty, Kevin (September 19, 2011). "Former PQ MNA files papers to start sovereignist party". The Gazette. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011.
  3. ^ Bussières, Ian (August 8, 2011). "Jean-Martin Aussant dit oui au pays, mais non-au Parti indépendantiste". Le Soleil. Retrieved August 1, 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 Archived 2012-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. National Post, August 20, 2012.
  7. ^ "Sol Zanetti nouveau chef d'Option nationale" (in French). Radio-Canada. October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
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