JOLIETTE - Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois, fresh from surviving a whisper campaign to replace her with former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe, is welcoming messages of support from her MNAs at a two-day caucus meeting.

Politician after politician walked into the meeting in Joliette and proclaimed their support for Marois, with many calling her the "dame de beton," a concrete pillar who is resilient and has weathered storms.

Veronique Hivon said that the squabbling and infighting that has marked the PQ, especially over the past year, should be taken as a show of strength.

"I think that more and more Quebecers see how resilient and how determined Mme. Marois is and I think it's very good news for the PQ," said Hivon.

Stephane Bergeron, the MNA for Vercheres, said having to defend Marois is "the name of the game" when it comes to being a member of the PQ.

"We have said that in the past, we haven't changed our mind," said Bergeron.

MNAs displayed that unity support by giving their leader a lengthy standing ovation when she walked into the meeting.

Marois said the two-day meeting will give her party to get back to basics.

"We have a responsibility to Quebecers. We are here to prepare for the next legislative session, and to adopt fundamental measures which will benefit all Quebecers," said Marois.

Drainville offered no comment

The outspoken Bernard Drainville, who's been criticized for making comments that he fears the party could become obsolete and disappear, didn't take questions from reporters Wednesday morning, saying only "I'll keep my comments for my colleagues."

Drainville recently said the PQ should strongly consider an alliance with Quebec Solidaire, a party that has only one elected MNA, Amir Khadir.

No mention of 'mother-in-law'

Similarly, no mention was made of this week's open letter from former PQ leader Bernard Landry.

In his letter Landry criticized Marois's strategy of putting the quest for an independent Quebec on the back-burner.

Despite polls showing the Parti Quebecois having the support of just 11 percent of Quebecers, Landry believes many more will choose the PQ because they still believe in sovereignty.

"I'm not addressing to Mme. Marois, I'm addressing the Parti Quebecois," said Landry. "Sovereignty is more popular today than it was 10 months before the referendum in 1995."

MNA Nicolas Girard said he has no doubts about the tactic.

"We're in a good mood right now and I think we have a good team. Mme. Marois is a very good leader for Quebecers and for the Parti Quebecois," said Girard.

This weekend the PQ will hold its annual meeting for all members in Montreal.

The next session of the National Assembly begins on February 14.