Jean-Martin Aussant wins PQ nomination battle in Pointe-aux-Trembles

Jean-Martin Aussantwas chosen Sunday by Parti Qubcoismembers in the Montrealriding of Pointe-aux-Trembles to represent the party in the fall election.

Aussant, a well-known economist, is considered a star recruit for PQ leaderJean-Franois Lise. Buthe was facinga tough nomination battle after choosing to run inPointe-aux-Trembles.

Maxime Laporte, the head of the sovereigntist lobby groupSocit Saint-Jean-Baptiste, was also hoping to stake a claim to the riding's nomination.

Laporteenjoyed the support of former premier Bernard Landry and Mario Beaulieu, one of the few remaining Bloc QubcoisMPs.

In the end, Aussanttook the nomination with 64 per cent of the vote. Around 530 PQ members voted.

Triumphant return, but another big battle brewing

Aussant's decision to run for the PQ was announced with much fanfare in February. He had been a popular MNA for the party from 2008 to 2011, when he quit arguing it wasn't sufficiently dedicated to pursuingsovereignty.

He founded a small party calledOption nationale, which never managed to win a seat and eventually merged with the left-wing Qubec Solidaire.

The next task for Aussantwill be keepingPointe-aux-Tremblesfrom falling into the hands of Coalition AvenirQubec.

The riding, located on the eastern end of Montreal,had long been considered a PQ stronghold,but recent projections suggest a tight race is shaping up.

Chantal Rouleau, a borough mayor in the riding, is running for the CAQ.