6 potential candidates to replace Pierre Karl Péladeau

The Parti Québécois is entering another period of uncertainty and opportunity.

The prospect of another leadership race less than a year after choosing now-former leader Pierre Karl Péladeau is daunting and overwhelming for some PQ members.

But it also presents a political opportunity for the party.

• Pierre Karl Péladeau's timid reign reflected Parti Québécois's identity crisis
• Key moments in Pierre Karl Péladeau's short political life
• Parti Québécois takes stock after Pierre Karl Péladeau's 

Under a new leader, PQ could depart from Péladeau's hardline on sovereignty in the short-term, replacing it with a focus on governing and attacking the Couillard government's controversial record. 

Here are some of the possible contenders.

Véronique Hivon

The MNA for Joliette is best known for her work shepherding the province's end-of-life care bill through the National Assembly and gaining support on all sides of the aisle.

Most recently, and at the request of Péladeau, she spearheaded the PQ's efforts for "convergence" with other separatist parties, a sort of electoral alliance to boot out the Liberals and set the winning conditions for a referendum. She's well-respected among her colleagues, well-spoken and is seen as a unifier.

Jean-Martin Aussant

The former leader of small separatist party Option Nationale left politics in 2013 to spend more time with his family and moved to London. Last year he came back to Quebec, but maintained that he wasn't preparing to jump back into politics.

However, his eulogy at Jacques Parizeau's funeral last year solidified him as the political heir to the former leader in the eyes of many.

Alexandre Cloutier

The runner-up to Péladeau last year, Cloutier had a stronger-than-expected second place finish with 29 per cent of the vote. Since last May, the MNA for Lac-St-Jean has had a high profile at the National Assembly as the PQ's education critic, opposing the Couillard government's cuts and proposed reforms.

If the party wants generational change, like the federal Liberals decided with Justin Trudeau, the 38 year-old could be seen as just that. But that could also play against him if the party decides they need someone with more experience, who is "election-ready" and can guide them through this turbulent time.

Jean-François Lisée

A former leadership contender and long-time péquiste, he famously called Péladeau a "ticking time bomb." Will his foreshadowing back then cause the PQ to look to him today to lead them into the next election in 2018?

As social services critic at the National Assembly, the MNA for Rosemont seized the file, hammering the Couillard government on several high-profile stories, such as the Laval group home runaways and the closing of the Centre Mélaric rehabilitation centre. But if the party wants a fresh face, he may not be the person for the job.

Bernard Drainville

Another former leadership contender, the MNA for Marie-Victorin will be forever hobbled by his leading role with the divisive values charter when he was a minister in Pauline Marois's short-lived government.

But he has taken on his role as PQ House Leader with gusto, regularly going head-to-head with the Couillard government during Question Period.

Martine Ouellet

The MNA for Vachon came in third against Péladeau last year. Since then, she has been front-and-centre criticizing the Liberal government on its handling of Uber and taxi industry.

However, it's unclear whether she can take on the role of "unifier" that the party needs. In last year's leadership race she garnered just 13 per cent of the vote.