Economist Jean-Martin Aussant returns to PQ after quitting to form rival party
MONTREAL — A well-known economist who quit the Parti Quebecois because he felt it wasn’t hardline enough on Quebec independence and founded a rival sovereigntist party is back in the PQ fold.
Jean-Martin Aussant told reporters alongside PQ leader Jean-Francois Lisee on Thursday he will run for the party in this fall’s provincial election.
The PQ sees Aussant as someone who can lend credibility to its sovereigntist image, which took a hit after Lisee promised to not launch a referendum on independence until at least 2022.
After winning a seat with the PQ in 2008, Aussant quit the party in 2011 and founded Option nationale.