After a decade away, New Democratic Party of Quebec elects its leader

Extended: NDPQ leader Raphael Fortin The newly-elected leader of the Quebec wing of the party says he wants to be someone that listens and works with his heart

After a decade-long absence from the provincial political scene, the New Democratic Party of Quebec (NDPQ) has elected Raphael Fortin to lead the party into the fall election.

A total of 397 votes were cast and Fortin, 37, amassed 62 per cent of the popular vote, beating out competitor Raymond Cote.

Fortin's election to leadership status marks the first time in over a decade that the provincial branch of the NDP has run a candidate in the election.

A graduate of the administration program at UQAM, Fortin got his start in politics by volunteering for the federal NDP when it was led by Tom Mulcair.

"I wanted to know and learn how to do door-to-door with someone that had a lot of experience. And that is how it started," said Fortin.

His goal is to be a responsible leader who pays attention to his supporters and what they need.

"Somebody that listens, somebody who works with his heart, because it's always how I was in my life, and I think empathy with the people is how you develop good politics," said Fortin.

According to Fortin's LinkedIn page, he also moonlights as a bartender.

The New Democratic Party of Quebec, as its known today, is essentially a revival of an older party which no longer exists. The modern party was registered with the Directeur General des Elections du Quebec in 2014. and former federal NDP leadership candidate Pierre Ducasse listed as its interim leader.

During a leadership debate in December, Fortin described the party as an alternative for electors who consider their views left-leaning, but not sovereigntist.