This page lists the results of leadership elections held by the Union Nationale. Before 1961 leaders were chosen by the caucus.
The Union Nationale (UN) was formed at a caucus of Conservative Party of Quebec and Action libérale nationale MLAs on June 20, 1936. Conservative leader Maurice Duplessis was chosen leader of this new party.
Duplessis led the party until his death on September 7, 1959. On September 10 the caucus elected Paul Sauvé as leader and became premier the following day. Sauve in turn died on January 2, 1960. Antonio Barrette was elected by the caucus on January 7 as leader and became premier the next day.
Following the UN's defeat in the 1960 general election Barette resigned as UN leader on September 15, 1960. The caucus elected Yves Prévost as interim leader the following day. He resigned on January 11, 1961, and was succeeded as interim leader by Antonio Talbot.
(Held September 23, 1961)[1]
Yves Gabias and Maurice S. Hebert withdrew before balloting.
Johnson died on September 26, 1968. Jean-Jacques Bertrand was chosen interim leader and premier on October 2.
(Held June 21, 1969)[2]
(Held June 19, 1971)[3]
First ballot:
Second ballot (Sevigny and Leveille eliminated):
Third ballot (Beaulieu eliminated):
Loubier resigned on March 30, 1974. Maurice Bellemare was chosen interim leader by the executive.
(Held May 22, 1976)[4]
Biron resigned on March 3, 1980, and crossed the floor to join the Parti Québécois a few months later. Michel Le Moignan was chosen interim leader.
(Held January 9, 1981)
(Held October 24, 1982)