Parti communiste du Québec (sovereigntist)

The Parti communiste du Québec (PCQ) is a sovereigntist political party, registered with Élections Québec from 2005 to 2012. It split from the Communist Party of Canada-aligned Communist Party of Quebec (PCQ-PCC) in 2005 at a national convention on the question of Quebec independence.

Not to be confused with the Communist Party of Quebec.

Parti communiste du Québec
LeaderGuy Roy
Founded2005 (2005)
Split fromCommunist Party of Quebec
IdeologyMarxism–Leninism
Quebec sovereigntism
ColoursRed
Seats in the National Assembly
0 / 125
Website
www.pcq.qc.ca

From 2006 to 30 July 2012, the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec authorized a provincial political party led by André Parizeau to use the name "Parti communiste du Québec". However, this authorization was withdrawn because the party no longer had one hundred card-carrying members.[1][2] In 2014 the party left Québec solidaire and now supports the Parti Québécois.

The split in the PCQ

The Union des forces progressistes (UFP) agreed to place the question of Quebec independence as intertwined with social or class issues. This was hotly debated as the party transformed into Québec solidaire. The debate moved over into the PCQ as well. These positions were questioned by the provincial leader of the party, André Parizeau, who formulated a series of amendments in support of immediate independence in 2004 which were rejected by both the provincial National Executive Committee (NEC) (by a vote of 4–2) and the federal Central Executive Committee (by a vote of 7–1).

In January 2005, Parizeau wrote a letter to PCQ members declaring that the party was in crisis and, describing the four NEC members who opposed his amendments as a federalist "Gang of Four", he summarily dismissed them. Although his Quebec nationalist point of view held a majority at the PCQ's convention of April 2005, who was granted voting rights was highly disputed. Parizeau was subsequently expelled by the party. Around the same time, his group announced their withdrawal from the CPC.

However, after a dispute where both groups presented documentation under the same name, the official Directeur général des élections du Québec on 3 April 2006, recognized the Parti communiste du Québec led by André Parizeau.[3]

The Central Committee of the party, however, affirmed the authority of the previous Quebec National Executive Committee in 18–19 June 2005. The non-registered CPC-aligned PCQ held a new convention which restarted a communist French-language periodical, Clarté, and later opened an office and small reading room, launched an active website, and re-affiliated with Quebec Solidaire as an organized group. They work closely with the youth and student organization, the "Ligue de la jeunesse communiste du Quebec".

2007 provincial election

In 2007 the Parti communiste du Québec decided not to run candidates in the provincial election and rather to support those of Quebec Solidaire. It should be specified that, before the split, the PCQ was one of the party-founders of the UFP, interdependent ancestor of Quebec Solidaire.

The nationalist PCQ decided to remain active only in order to prevent another new political formation taking its name. Parizeau, executive committee member Francis Gagnon-Bergmann and Jocelyn Parent were candidates for Quebec Solidaire in the districts of Acadie, Blainville and Mirabel.

The original PCQ-PCC also participated in the 2007 elections, running three candidates under the banner of Quebec Solidaire, as well as offering its own independent perspective on the election.

2008 provincial election

Four members of the nationalist PCQ were presented as candidates in the election under the banner of Quebec solidaire; Gagnon-Bergmann in Blainville, Parizeau in Acadie, executive member Sabrina Perreault in Terrebonne and Jean Nicolas Denis in Bellechasse.

2012 provincial election

The nationalist PCQ lost its certification as the PCQ with the Director of Elections Quebec, and failed to nominate any candidates. It advocated for a united coalition of Quebec Solidaire with the PQ and Option nationale.

The original PCQ-PCC again participated in the 2007 election under the banner of Quebec Solidaire, focusing on the campaign of one candidate in Acadie (bumping out the leader of the nationalist PCQ). The PCQ-PCC also presented its own independent perspective on the election and the question of voting and the student struggle.

2014 provincial election

No members of the PCQ presented themselves in the provincial election under the banner of Quebec Solidaire. The nationalist PCQ broke with Quebec Solidaire shortly after the defeat of the Parti Quebecois in the Quebec provincial election. It advocated for a broad-tent coalition of all nationalist groups moving towards independence. Moreover, it expressed support of Pierre Karl Péladeau in the Parti Quebecois leadership race.

Current status

On 17 July 2012, the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec stated he wished to remove the authorization given to the provincial party led by Parizeau, in agreement with the Election Act, because of its failure to maintain at least 100 qualified electors.[1] The authorization was withdrawn on 30 July 2012.[2]

At a congress in September, the nationalist PCQ led by Parizeau indicated it wished to regain the authorization and was actively recruiting to fulfill the requirements.

In 2019, Parizeau disavowed the PCQ in order to be accepted as a candidate for the Bloc Québécois in the 2019 federal election.[4]

Spokespersons
  • André Parizeau (2004–2008)
  • Francis Gagnon-Bergmann (2008–2011)
  • André Parizeau (2011–2012)
  • Guy Roy and Gabriel Proulx (2012–present)
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References
  1. "Intention of withdrawal of authorization". Élections Québec. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  2. "Public notices". Élections Québec. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  3. http://www.monvote.qc.ca/fr/acd_parti_politique.asp?parti=PCQ. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Paré, Étienne. "L'ancien chef du Parti communiste sera finalement candidat pour le Bloc". Journal de Montreal. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
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