1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election

The 1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election was the leadership election to replace Lucien Bouchard after he left the Bloc Québécois to become Premier of Quebec.^[1] Bloc MP Michel Gauthier won the election and became Leader of the Official Opposition.^[2][3][1][4] Gauthier's lack of profile resulted in some opposition parties mocking him as being the "faceless leader" of the opposition, as he was largely a political unknown in most of Canada and even in Quebec.^[2] His leadership was unpopular with the caucus due to alleged conservative views and his lack of "charisma or authority" when compared to Bouchard.^[5] Facing a revolt by his MPs, which culminated in the leaking of confidential caucus discussions, Gauthier resigned in March 1997.^[5]

1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election

February 17, 1996 1997 →

Candidate Michel Gauthier Francine Lalonde Riding Roberval Mercier Votes 104 51 Percentage 67.1% 32.9%

Leader before election Gilles Duceppe (Interim) Elected Leader Michel Gauthier

1996 Bloc Québécois leadership election

Date	February 17, 1996
Resigning leader	Lucien Bouchard
Won by	Michel Gauthier
Ballots	1
Candidates	2
Bloc Québécois leadership elections 1996 · 1997 · 2011 · 2014 · 2017 · 2019

Candidates

Name		Riding	Notes	Source
Michel Gauthier		Roberval	Member of Parliament Joined party on October 25, 1993	[1][4]
Francine Lalonde		Mercier	Member of Parliament Joined party on October 25, 1993	[6]

Result

First Ballot

Candidate		Votes	Percentage
	GAUTHIER, Michel	104	67.1%
	LALONDE, Francine	51	32.9%
Total		155	100%