Rassemblement démocratique pour l'indépendance

The Rassemblement démocratique pour l'indépendance (RDI) was a short-lived political movement promoting the cause of Quebec independence. It was started in February 1985 by disgruntled former members of the Parti Québécois (PQ) who objected to the party's decision the previous month to de-emphasize its support for Quebec sovereignty.

The RDI was initially an informal alliance of Quebec sovereigntists. Former PQ cabinet minister Camille Laurin was chosen as its first president on an interim basis, while other important members and supporters included Gilbert Paquette and Jacques Parizeau. Some RDI members wanted the movement to become a full-fledged political party, while others, including Parizeau, regarded it as simply a temporary organization for supporters of Quebec independence. Those in the latter camp expected that the PQ would be defeated in the 1985 provincial election and expressed hope that the party could later be returned to a sovereigntist focus.

The RDI held its official founding convention at the end of March 1985 and chose former PQ cabinet minister Denise Leblanc-Bantey as its full-time president. The convention did not decide whether or not the RDI would field candidates in the 1985 election, and Parizeau openly argued against this possibility. Leblanc-Bantey announced in May 1985 that the RDI would not field candidates, noting that some of its members had still not severed their ties to the PQ.

Five independent members of the Quebec National Assembly (MNAs) affiliated with the RDI in 1985, although they were not recognized as an official party caucus. The RDI did not support a candidate in the 1985 Parti Québécois leadership election that followed René Lévesque's resignation, although Jean Garon sought to bring RDI members into his leadership campaign.

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