Bloc Qubcois Leader Gilles Duceppe to step down

Gilles Duceppe will announce his resignationas leader of the Bloc Qubcois on Thursday, CBC'sFrench-language serviceRadio-Canada has learned.

The decision comes afterDuceppe failed to win back his former seator lead his party back to official status in Monday's election. Twelve seats are needed for official party status in the House of Commons , andthe party won 10.

Popular support for the party in Monday's election did not surpass 20 per cent.

Earlier this week, Duceppe admitted the election results fell short of his expectations.

"Certainly, these are not the results we were hoping for," Duceppe told a crowdofBQsupporters Monday night after all the ballots were counted.

PartiQubcoisLeader Pierre KarlPladeausaid at the time thathe hopedDuceppewould stay on as theBloc'sleader and touted his expertise in federal issues.

"Gilles has always been a strong advocate. He has the political experience, which we sawduring the election campaign."

• GillesDuceppedefeated, BQ falls short of achieving party status
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Duceppewon a seat as a Bloc MP in 1990, and served as a leader of the party for 14 years. He resigned after the 2011 election, which saw his party lose all but four of the 47 seats it held at dissolution.

The party had further struggles in the period since the 2011 election,with two MPs defecting and new leaderMarioBeaulieufailing to gain traction in the province.

That enticed68-year-oldDuceppeto comeback from retirement in June, just weeks before the Aug. 2 election call.

During the 11-week campaignhe visited votersin towns and villages across the province. The party won 10 seats in Quebec nine of them were gains at the expense of the NDP.

But Duceppe lost his own race in his home riding of LaurierSainte-Marie for the second consecutive time to the NDP's Hlne Laverdire.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday in Montreal,Duceppe in part blamedstrategic voting for the Bloc's struggles, sayingQuebecersvoted Liberal with the aim ofousting Stephen Harper's Conservatives from power.

Catherine Fournier next Blocpresident?

There are rumblings thatCatherine Fournier, defeated BQ candidate inMontarville in the Montrgie region, could take over from Mario Beaulieu as president of the party.

Duceppe's office did not wish to comment on the matter. Meanwhile,Fournier, who was contacted by Radio-Canada, said more information would be available on Thursday.

Duceppehas a news conferencescheduledin Montreal on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.