It's been a long, hard fall for Quebec's third political party.

The Action Democratique almost won power in 2007, but then lost most of its seats last December.

Now its leaders have been playing musical chairs as the party tries to survive.

First Mario Dumont resigned after last year's crippling defeat, then Sylvie Roy filled in as interim leader.

Gilles Taillon took up the reins after winning the leadership race by one vote, but was forced out after a month in power.

Gerard Deltell is the fourth leader the party has had this year, and it's his job to reconnect with the people that elected over 40 adequistes in 2007, then deserted them a year later.

"The responsibility is to us, we have to prove to all those people who left that the ADQ is their party," said Deltell. "But for that we have to build a strong party based on the party worker's involvement."

After Taillon's election two strong MNA's, Marc Picard and Eric Caire, slammed the door on the party they said is no longer right of center.

Deltell claims he won't ask them directly to return.

"We will create the conditions that those people, we will get back natually because they will feel good in our party," said Deltell.

His colleagues are counting on his speaking skills to help nurse the party's finances back to good health.

"Mr. Deltell is a very good leader," said Francois Bonnardell, the MNA for Shefford. "He's going to be able to prepare a good beginning for our party."

The ADQ has four members in the 125-seat national assembly.

Deltell is a former TV reporter who worked for Radio-Canada, TVA and TQS.