Parti Qubcois leadership race officially underway

It may seem like it's already been going on for months, but the race to replace Pierre KarlPladeauas head of thePartiQubcoisonlyofficially began onMonday.

Party presidentRaymondArchambaultformally announced the start of the campaign at a news conference in Montreal.

• Your handy guide to the PQ leadership race
• PQ leadership hopeful calls onTrudeauto retract 'one nation' Canada Day message

Archaumbaultsaid he's confident the race will generate more interest when the National Assembly opens its fall session in mid-August.

"Whenever there is a leadership contest, there is a renewed interest in the political party,"Archambaultsaid.

Five candidates are vying for thePQ'stop job. They are:

• AlexandreCloutier.
• MartineOuellet.
• VroniqueHivon.
• Jean-FranoisLise.
• Paul Saint-PierrePlamondon.

A debate is planned for Sept. 11 in Sherbrooke, with another in Montreal two weeks later.

To be eligible, candidates were required to collect 1,500 signatures supporting their candidacy and$10,000. Another $10,000 is due at the end of August.

The PQ will select its new leader on Oct. 7.

Archambault said the candidates share a common objective but each has his or herown distinct positions.