PQ hunkers down after being spurned by potential sovereignist ally

The Parti Qubcois was in damage-control mode on Tuesday after a difficult stretch that saw a proposed alliance with Qubec Solidaire shot down andopinion polls placethem third among prospective voters.

Speakingbefore an emergency caucus meeting in Quebec City, PQ Leader Jean-Franois Lise maintainedhis party is in the best position to take down the Liberal governmentin the next election and avoid another "four years of austerity."

• Why Qubec Solidaire rejected alliance with the Parti Qubcois

"We are the only ones who can do that," he told reporters.

The comments come afterQubecSolidairemembers optedSunday to reject a strategicalliance that hadbeenproposed by the PQ.

The move was touted as a way to unite thesovereignistmovement ahead of the 2018 election.

But QubecSolidairespurned the PQ's advances.

Advances rebuffed

QubecSolidaireholds onlytwo seats in the National Assemblybut is seen as a threat to the PQ'sprogressive flank, potentially siphoningvotes.

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, one of Qubec Solidaire's newly elected co-spokespeople, said Monday that ideological "incoherence and inconsistency" within the PQ turned his party's members off the idea of an alliance.

He accused the PQ of flip-flopping on policy issues important toQubecSolidaire members, such as the environment and immigration.

• PQ expels member for taking gifts from engineering firm in previous job

"Those changes in position greatly eroded the confidence that could have existed between the PQ and Qubec Solidaire," he said.

On Tuesday, Lise criticizedQubecSolidaire for failing to "go beyond their partisan interests."

"The PQ has always wanted to be part of the solution, a party of openness," he said.

The latest opinion polls, however, suggest support for his party is waning.

Pollaggregator Qc125puts the PQ in third placebehind the Liberalsand theCoalition Avenir Qubec,based on two recentpolls by the firmsMainstreet andLger.

QS supporters want talks with PQ, Lise says

Lise pointed to one Lger poll, which showed 87 per cent of QS supporters in favour of talks with the PQ about apotential merger.

"Now, if Qubec Solidaire doesn't want to speak with us, we know 87 per cent of their supporters want this, have good sense and think it's necessary," Lise said.

It's now up to those "disappointed, orphaned" supporters to decide what to do, Lise said.

"We're saying, 'You were right, you the 87 per cent of voters of Quebec Solidaire[were right] to want this pact,'" hetold reporters Tuesday afternoon.

"If you want to be part of the solution, we're the inclusive party and we welcome you."