The Parti Québécois (PQ) since its inception has been a wide-ranging "big tent" on economic & social issues stitched together by strong common attachment to sovereigntist visions ranging from full Québec independence to sovereignty-association.

With public support for all forms of sovereignty (save cultural in some suburban, small town & rural areas) at a low ebb & the rise of QS to represent the social democratic, urban & socially inclusive version of the PQ dream & of the Coalition Avenir Québec to represent the conservative, small town & exclusionary version reminiscent of the Union Nationale, the PQ is in a real bind and any leader will find themselves under constant attack from the contending factions that remain within the PQ and experience growing frustration with each other and PQ prospects.