QUEBEC — Former challengers and old friends rallied to the side of Parti Quebecois Leader Bernard Landry on Friday as the party began a convention that will pass judgment on his leadership.

A confidence vote Saturday is expected to confirm Landry's position as party head, despite 18 months of doubts expressed by some of his most important colleagues.

As he opened the convention Friday night, Landry hinted at the stress the constant questioning has caused him.

"I have always loved this party deeply, in all the circumstances it has put me through. And over the last year, if it's possible, my love has grown,'' Landry said in a speech that was subdued for a man facing an imminent confidence vote.

"We launched a season of ideas with the risks that it presented. Because when you start a debate in PQ, if you don't like debates and discussions, you'd be better off to keep quiet. But we didn't stay quiet, and I was not disappointed. I was hoping for lively debates, respectful but fiery discussions, and they're not done yet.''

In his speech, Landry reinforced a series of his positions on sovereignty that are up for debate this weekend. Among them, Landry wants a flexible approach to the timing of the next referendum while the party is considering a policy to require a vote in the first half of the next PQ mandate.

Francois Legault, a former cabinet minister when Landry was premier, said he is throwing his support behind Landry despite previous doubts about his leadership.

Legault admitted he stirred the pot for 18 months by releasing a platform, discussion papers and a financial plan for a sovereign Quebec. Many of his proposals contradicted Landry's long-held positions. Legault said Landry deserves credit for tolerating it.

"There aren't too many chiefs who would have put up with it," Legault said.

"For a year-and-a-half he allowed a debate of ideas of all kinds. I will support Bernard Landry because he allowed this debate to take place, to start the modernization of the party."

Andre Boisclair, a former PQ member of the legislature who quit politics to study at Harvard and work in the private sector, said his faith in Landry is firm. Boisclair is considered a long-term prospect to lead the PQ.

"Mr. Landry is the most competent person to bring all these members together and build a new trust with the population of Quebec," Boisclair said.

Legault and former cabinet colleague Pauline Marois began a challenge to Landry's leadership by organizing campaigns and circulating campaign-style literature.

Other senior party members called on Landry to resign and hold a leadership race.

The leadership aspirations of Legault and Marois faded through the spring as polls suggested they had little support in Quebec. They both recently threw their support behind Landry.

Polls consistently indicated Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe would be the most popular potential leader of the PQ, with Landry trailing far behind in second place.

Duceppe insists he is not interested in the job, although he spoke for 35 minutes and barely mentioned Landry while introducing him to PQ delegates Friday.
Questions about Landry's leadership diminished this spring as the Gomery commission into the federal sponsorship program dominated headlines.

Landry also benefited from the unpopular government of Premier Jean Charest.

Sylvain Simard, a PQ member of the legislature, said it's important the party steer away from radical positions.

"At the end of the process, I think it will all come through the mainstream,'' said Sylvain Simard, a PQ member of the legislature.

"We must really reach the vast majority of the population, meet the needs of the population, and not only dream and prepare a program that cannot be adjusted to reality."