[1] It advocated for the independence of Quebec from Canada, and said a vote for Option Nationale is an electoral mandate for full-fledged autonomy (de facto sovereignty), before holding a referendum to adopt the constitution of Quebec as an independent state (de jure sovereignty).

It was founded in 2011 by Jean-Martin Aussant, an independent member of the National Assembly (MNA) who had quit the Parti Québécois (PQ) earlier that year after being elected in 2008.

Aussant insists that economic fears propagated by federalists were responsible for the referendum defeat.

[3] Shortly after the creation of Option Nationale, Lisette Lapointe, wife of former Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau, acquired a membership card from the party,[4] but decided to continue sitting as an independent MNA until the end of her term, and did not run for reelection in the 2012 provincial election.

[5] During the campaign of the 2012 general election, columnist Dan Delmar of the National Post commented: Although the party led by former Péquiste Jean-Martin Aussant is desperate to breakaway [sic] from Canada, he is going about the project in a civilized manner.