Véronique Hivon to enter PQ leadership race on Monday
Joliette MNA to become the first to officially throw her hat into the ring
Véronique Hivon will officially launch her campaign for the Parti Québécois leadership on Monday, Radio-Canada has learned.
Hivon, a PQ MNA, plans to make the announcement in her riding of Joliette, north of Montreal.
She will become the first person to formally enter the race to replace Pierre Karl Péladeau, who stepped down suddenly on Monday.
Details of the leadership race have yet to be finalized, but party officials said Saturday they want to have a new leader in place by October 15 at the latest.
Following Péladeau's resignation, the PQ caucus chose Sylvain Gaudreault as its interim leader.
Hivon has been an MNA since 2008. She came to prominence for her role drafting Quebec's right-to-die legislation.
Other candidates rumoured to be considering joining the race are former cabinet minister Alexandre Cloutier and long-time PQ insider Jean-François Lisée.
with files from Radio-Canada