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By Yohannes Edemariam
AURORA, Ontario, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Businesswoman Belinda Stronach quit her job as president and chief executive of auto-parts maker Magna International on Tuesday and jumped into the race to become the leader of Canada's Conservative Party.
Stronach, 37, who is the daughter of Magna International founder and chairman Frank Stronach, conceded at a press conference that she is a political neophyte.
"I am not a professional politician but I have met a payroll, I understand what it takes to compete on a global basis," Stronach said at news conference.
"The next two months will be a steep learning curve. I am as new to this as our party is new to Canadians. From time to time, I will make mistakes."
The Conservative Party was reborn early last month when Canada's two right-wing opposition parties -- the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives -- merged to challenge the ruling Liberals, who have been in power for a decade. A federal election is likely this spring.
Stronach was reportedly instrumental in last year's merger between the parties, encouraging the two leaders to restart stalled talks.
But she is considered to have only an outside chance for the leadership due to a lack of political experience and her inability to speak French, one of Canada's two official languages.
"I would be skeptical of the staying power and real appeal of someone with such a background. She has virtually no visible political experience," said Richard Johnston, political science professor at the University of British Columbia. "I suspect that she would quickly get eaten alive."
Describing herself as a "moderate, middle-of-the-road person," Stronach said she opposed decriminalizing marijuana but supports same-sex marriages. In addition, she called for lower taxes, smaller government and higher military spending.
The millionaire businesswoman, who intends to run for parliament in the next election whether she wins the Conservative Party leadership or not, downplayed criticism that her wealth made her unable to relate to average Canadians.
"I went to public high school, I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth," she said. "I feel I've been fortunate in my life and I worked hard for it."
Stronach was 22 when she joined the board of Magna, the company founded by her father, who emigrated from Austria in 1954. The company is the world's seventh-largest auto-parts maker and generates nearly $15 billion in annual sales.
Three years ago, she succeeded her father as chief executive of Magna and added the title of president in 2002.
Stronach is the third candidate to throw their hat into the ring, following Stephen Harper, who stepped down as Alliance Party leader to run, and former Ontario health minister Tony Clement. Party members choose a new leader in March.
($1=$1.29 Canadian)