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.

1996 BQ leadership election

First Ballot

• Michel Gauthier — 104
• Francine Lalonde — 51

155 total ballots were cast.

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.

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.

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.

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

See also: leadership convention