Jean-Franois Lise wouldn't push for sovereignty in first PQ mandate

Jean-Franois Lise, who formally entered the running for the Parti Qubecois leadership on Monday, says he wouldn't push for sovereignty in his first mandate if he became premier.

In an interview CBC Montreal'sDaybreak,Liseoutlined atwo-step plan if he's elected leader of thePartiQubecois.

"Our immediate goal is to get rid of this toxic Liberal government,"Lise said.

The second part of his plan is to gain Quebec independence.But he said that move wouldn't come right away.

• Quebec's 1995 referendum far from last gasp for sovereignty hopes

"ThePartiQuebecois must seize the call ofQuebecersto say, 'We don't want a referendum in the next mandate. We don't want a PQ governmentwhich is a good governmentto engage in independence propaganda of any kind,"Lisesaid.

Lise becomes the third person to enter the running to replace Pierre Karl Pladeau as PQ chief, following Vronique Hivon and Alexandre Cloutier.

• More on:VroniqueHivon
• More on:AlexandreCloutier

Lise, the MNA forRosemont, laid out that plan in more detail in a post on his blog, saying first he would beat the Liberals, then achieve independence "in that order."

Lisewas anadvisor to thePQ'sJacquesParizeauduring the 1995 Quebecreferendum campaign.

He alsoserved as minister of international relations under former PQ premier PaulineMarois.

• After quitting,Pladeau 'touched' by Quebecers' kind words
• ANALYSIS|ThePQ'sShakespearean leadership race

Lisebriefly flirted with a leadership bid after Marois resigned as leaderin 2014.

But he abandoned that quest inJanuary 2015,sayingPladeau had too big a lead.