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The new head of the Bloc Québécois says he plans to recapture the hearts of Quebec voters by putting a greater emphasis on independence.

Mario Beaulieu, an ardent sovereigntist and the former head of the nationalist St. Jean Baptiste Society, won a slim victory on Saturday over his only opponent in the party’s leadership race, Bloc MP Andre Bellavance.

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Beaulieu said explaining the benefits of breaking away from Canada will be his top priority.

“Our opponents have often announced the death of the independence movement,” he told a crowd of supporters at a concert venue in Montreal.

“I have a surprise for them: we are returning with more determination and energy than ever.”

Beaulieu has a difficult task ahead.

From now on, we’re going to talk about sovereignty first and worry about getting elected afterward

The Bloc was reduced to just four seats in the Commons in the 2011 election from the 49 it held after the 2008 vote.

There are doubts about Quebec’s appetite for sovereignty after the Parti Québécois also suffered a drubbing. They had their lowest level of support in 44 years in the April 7 provincial election.