Vronique Hivon's star rising for Parti Qubcois top job

Vronique Hivonisthe one to watch in the race to replace Pierre Karl Pladeau as the leader of the Parti Qubcois.

Sources say about a dozen MNAs are ready to throw their support behind the popular MNA from Joliette.

She may also be in line to get the support ofJean-Martin Aussant, the former Option nationale leader who had been considered a possible contender for the PQ leadership.

Sources told Radio-Canada thatAussantwon't be throwing his hat in the ring, and could back Hivon instead.

But first, the caucus needs to choose an interim leader.

That is the one and onlyorder of business at today's emergency caucus meeting atLeBonne Entente Hotel in Quebec City, four days after former leader and media mogul Pladeau's bombshell resignation.

Sources close to Hivon say her candidacy seems to beinevitable. A team is already forming around her, including a former executive director ofthe PQ and two experienced political organizers who have offered theirhelp.

• 6 potential candidates to replace Pierre Karl Pladeau

• Pierre Karl Pladeau's timid reign reflected Parti Qubcois's identity crisis

• Pierre Karl Pladeau quits as Parti Qubcois leader

Hivon can also count on the support of people outside the political world. Four supporterscame together to create a "Draft Vronique Hivon" campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

Jerry Beaudoin, one of the founders, says they are independent of Hivon's team and want to show her that there are people ready to pound the pavement for her leadership campaign.

"We need strong and unifying leadership that can put the machine in place very quickly,"saidBeaudoin, a teacher and card-carrying PQ member. "Everyone recognizes, even her adversaries, that Vronique Hivon is a unifier."

The group is also getting support from members ofother separatist parties, such asQubecSolidaire. It could be a sign of howHivon mightchange the political landscape beyond her own party, tearing support away fromleftist-sovereignistQubec Solidaire.

Don't count out Alexandre Cloutier

WhenPladeau stepped down, all eyes turned to Lac-St-Jean MNA Alexandre Cloutier. He finished a strong second to Pladeau at last year's leadership convention.However, he hadthe support ofHivonand her followers in that race after shedecided not to run.

Cloutier's team says several MNAs would like him to run again, but no one can confirm who and how many.

Cloutier and Hivonare close friends, so if both runthatcould make for a unique, personal dimension to the leadership race.

Other candidates may include former leadership candidatesJean-Franois Lise, Bernard Drainville andMartine Ouellet.

'The mini race'

While the most important race is the one for the permanent job, PQ MNAs, still shell-shocked by Pladeau's surprise resignation Monday, need to choose someone to lead them into the National Assembly on Tuesday. This will be thetask attoday's meeting.

The two people vying for the role of interim leader are Jonquire MNA and former transportation minister Sylvain Gaudreault and current PQdeputy house leader Agns Maltais.

Gaudreault was the first one out of the gate on Tuesday, outlining his vision for the interim leader: someone who is calm, confidentand knows the files.

Meanwhile, Maltais was rushing back to Quebec from France, where she was part of a delegation.

She insists Gaudreault does not have the race wrapped up.

"Party members and MNAs have known me for a long time," she says. "And I think they're capable of making a judgment not over only 24 hours, but according to the solid career I've had."

With files from Radio-Canada's Julie Dufresne.