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Alberta’s newest political party now has a new — and its first — leader.

Derek Fildebrandt, the Independent MLA from Strathmore-Brooks, launched the Freedom Conservative Party as its interim leader in July.

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His place at the helm of the party — which was previously called the Separation Party of Alberta and the Alberta First Party — is now secure after Fildebrandt, the only candidate who declared an interest in running, was voted in as leader on Saturday.

In July, Fildebrandt said the party’s main political priority is “the complete obliteration of the NDP.”

Fildebrandt resigned from the UCP caucus and then was banned from running for the party after a series of public scandals and convictions.

Over the past year, Fildebrandt was slapped with a $402 fine for a hit and run, a poaching charge, and drew criticism for renting out his taxpayer-funded apartment on Airbnb.

Before entering politics, Fildebrandt was the Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

RRumbolt@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @RCRumbolt