Martine Ouellet is facing more stiff opposition as Bloc Québécois members get ready to vote on her leadership.
Some of those who want Ms. Ouellet to quit sent an e-mail to party members on Thursday asking them to not support her in the vote, which takes place on Friday and Saturday.
They say her departure is crucial if the Bloc is to emerge from its ongoing crisis.
The party has been in disarray since late February when seven of its 10 MPs quit over Ms. Ouellet’s leadership style.
Of the three who are left, only two still back her.
Ms. Ouellet has been described by some as controlling and uncompromising and many of her detractors accuse her of focusing too sharply on Quebec independence instead of defending the province’s interests on the federal scene.
In mid-May, the Bloc’s youth wing also withdrew its support of Ms. Ouellet, who is also sitting as an Independent member in the Quebec legislature after stepping away from the Parti Québécois caucus.
The result of the vote will be made public on Sunday, and Ms. Ouellet has said she believes getting the support of 50 per cent plus one will give her the legitimacy to stay on.
That doesn’t make sense to Mathieu Bonsaint, president of the Bloc riding association in Portneuf-Jacques-Cartier.
“Who can believe the party will have settled the crisis with a score of about 51 per cent? Mr. Bonsaint said at a news conference in Montreal on Thursday.
“Who can really believe the party will survive and be reunified?”
Party members will also be voting on whether the Bloc should focus on promoting Quebec independence on a daily basis.