Manon Mass to be face of Qubec Solidaire's election campaign

QubecSolidaireMNAManon Masswill be her party'scandidate for premier in this fall's provincial election.

The small left-wing party eschews the leadership model adopted bymost political parties, opting instead for two spokespeople, one male and one female.Massfulfills that role along with fellow MNA Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

But parliamentary convention holds only one person can serve as premier, the leader of the partywith the largest number of seats in the legislature.

On Monday, QS announcedMass, a former community organizer and women's rights activist,would be its choice for premier, should it manage to win the next election.

In more practical terms, it meansMass will represent the party during leadership debates. The party only holds three seats in the National Assembly and is currently polling around 10 per cent.

"The system in place puts the interests of the political and economic class before everything," Masssaid ata news conference in Montreal.

"We need an electric shock and I am proposing to Quebecers to be that electric shock."

There had been speculation thatNadeau-Dubois, who rose to prominence as a student union leader during the student protests of 2012 and became party co-spokesperson last May, would seek the premier's role.

ButNadeau-Dubois said his co-spokesperson better embodied Quebecers' desire for change.

"Recent events show us that Quebecerswant authentic political figures, who break the traditional image of politicians,"Nadeau-Dubois said. "Manonis an incarnation of authenticity in politics."

Nadeau-Duboiswill serve as the party's chief organizer for the election campaign. The decision to put Massforward as the party's choice for premier will have to be confirmed by QS members at a meeting in May.

Last week,Haroun Bouazzi aprominent anti-racism activistannounced he would seek the party's nomination to run in Maurice-Richard, a north-end Montreal riding formerly known as Crmazie.

The next election is currently scheduled for Oct. 1.