An upstart hardline sovereigntist party has gotten support from a major political figure, former Parti Quebecois
premier Jacques Parizeau.

Parizeau is throwing his considerable clout behind the campaign of Jean-Martin Aussant, head of Option nationale.

Option nationale announced today that Parizeau gave a $200 donation to help Aussant in his own riding.

The new party, which presents itself as more committed to Quebec independence than the PQ, already had the backing of Parizeau's wife, Lisette Lapointe.

Lapointe says on Twitter that Parizeau's endorsement of Aussant shouldn't be interpreted as a rejection of the PQ.

Option nationale is polling at around two per cent provincewide, while the Parti Quebecois continues to lead in the polls.

As Quebec's premier, Parizeau led the province to within a few votes of independence in 1995 and continues to hold some sway within the PQ's rank and file.

Aussant left the PQ in 2011 over differences with leader Pauline Marois.

He founded Option nationale a few months later.

He has outlined a game plan to make Quebec independent within his party's first mandate