Lucien Bouchard, the first leader of the Bloc Québécois was elected by acclamation by the MPs who formed the Bloc in 1990. When the party held its first convention in April 1995 his leadership was ratified by the delegates. Bouchard left the BQ a few months later to take over the leadership of the Parti Québécois and become premier of Quebec. Lucien Bouchard official Quebec government picture. ... The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada that is primarily devoted to promoting sovereignty for the province of Quebec. ... Politics An acclamation is a form of election not using a ballot. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... Convention has at least two separate and very distinct meanings. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Parti Québécois or PQ is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for Quebec from Canada. ... A premier is an executive official of government. ... ...

1996 BQ leadership election

First Ballot

• Michel Gauthier — 104
• Francine Lalonde — 51

155 total ballots were cast. Michel Gauthier, PC (born February 18, 1950) is a Canadian politician and former leader of the Bloc Québécois for one year (1996-1997). ... Francine Lalonde (born August 24, 1940 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec) is a Canadian politician. ...

The first BQ leadership election was conducted among members of the party's directorate, which is the equivalent of the federal council of other parties.

1997 BQ leadership election

First Ballot

• Gilles Duceppe — 21,268 (45.25%)
• Yves Duhaime — 16,408 (33.9%)
• Rodrigue Biron — 6,468 (13.3%)
• Francine Lalonde — 2,671 (4.25%)
• Daniel Turp — 1,081 (2.2%)
• Pierrette Venne — 541 (1.1%)

48,437 total ballots were cast. Gilles Duceppe Gilles Duceppe, PC, MP (b. ... Rodrigue Biron (born September 8, 1934) is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. ... Francine Lalonde (born August 24, 1940 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec) is a Canadian politician. ...

Second Ballot

• Gilles Duceppe — 25,561 (52.8%)
• Yves Duhaime — 16,408 (33.9%)
• Rodrigue Biron — 6,468 (13.3%)

48,437 total ballots were cast. Gilles Duceppe Gilles Duceppe, PC, MP (b. ... Rodrigue Biron (born September 8, 1934) is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. ...

The 1997 leadership vote 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. After Gilles Duceppe received 45% support on the first count, the Lalonde, Turp and Venne ballots were re-scrutinized for second- and third-preference Duceppe votes. As the scrutiny placed Duceppe over the top, there does not appear to have been a similar count for Duhaime or Biron. OMOV, an acronym standing for one man, one vote or one member, one vote, is a term used to support wider and more equal participation in political systems. ...

Strangely, the above numbers suggest that every Lalonde, Turp and Venne voter listed Duceppe as their second or third choice.

See also: leadership convention In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to hold an election for leader due to a vacancy or a serious challenge to the incumbent leader. ...