There's an agreement in principle to merge the leftist Quebec Solidaire and hardline separatist Option Nationale parties.
An announcement was made at the National Assembly Thursday by QS MNA Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and Option Nationale leader Sol Zanetti, which would see the latter's name and colors disappear into a larger Quebec Solidaire party.
Option Nationale was founded in 2011 by ex-PQ MNA Jean-Martin Aussant, who believed then-PQ leader Pauline Marois wasn't taking a hard-enough line on independence. The party never came close to electing an MNA in any of the elections or by-elections it contested.
Quebec Solidaire has three MNAs.
The merger needs to be ratified by rank-and-file members of both parties, at which point the parties finances will be brought together.