The Parti Québécois could have a new leader tonight

Above Watch: The Parti Québécois could have a new leader tonight, with Pierre Karl Péladeau seen as the favourite to replace Pauline Marois. Elysia Bryan-Baynes reports from Quebec City.

MONTREAL — The Parti Québécois could have a new leader tonight, with Pierre Karl Péladeau seen as the favourite to replace Pauline Marois.

Party members have until 5 p.m. eastern to cast a ballot for either Péladeau, Alexandre Cloutier or Martine Ouellet.

Marois resigned after the PQ election loss to the Liberals in 2014.

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The 53-year-old Péladeau, who controls media conglomerate Quebecor Inc., is considered the front-runner.

If none of the three candidates gets 50 per cent, a second round of voting with the top two finishers will take place between next Wednesday and Friday.

WATCH ABOVE: PQ leadership race wraps up this week

The 37-year-old Cloutier and the 46-year-old Ouellet both served in cabinet under Marois.

Stéphane Bédard has been leading the party on an interim basis since the election defeat.

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