Daniel Paill new leader of Bloc Qubcois

The Bloc Qubcois has chosen former MP Daniel Paillas the new leader of the party as it seeks to rebuild after a disastrous showing in the May election.

"We will never turn our backs on the fight," Pailltold party members in Montreal after his victory Sunday, referring to the Bloc's separatist roots.

Two current MPs,Maria Mouraniand Jean-Francois Fortin were alsoin the race to replace Gilles Duceppe, who was chosen leader of the partyin 1997 and resigned last May, nine days after the federal vote that cost his party dearly.

Both Paill and Duceppe lost their seats in Parliament in the last election and the Bloc was left with amere four seats.

The Bloc Qubcois had held47 of Quebec's 75 seats in the previous Parliament beforeits near-total wipeout.

Party membership has slumped since the election.

More than a quarter of the party's 53,000 members didn't renew their card and won't be able to vote for the next leader.

Paill said theBloc is a "party that fights" and will "move ahead."

"We're still alive and well, andwe have to look forward," he said.

Paill told the CBC the fact that he does nothave a seat is a good thing, ashe can be a full-time leader and travel across Quebec meeting with people in every riding.