The PRQ was founded in November 1962 by Marcel Chaput, who was also one of the founders of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale in 1960.
Chaput believed that independentist movement should run candidates in general elections.
Quickly, the party was plagued by financial problems, and it never achieved the goal of gathering all the sovereigntist forces.
The Parti républicain du Québec folded in 1964 without contesting a single election.
The same year, the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale decided to become a political party.