TORONTO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Belinda Stronach, chief executive of auto-parts giant Magna International , will run for the leadership of Canada's Conservative Party, a source close to Stronach said on Wednesday.
"She has decided that she is in," said the source who asked not to be identified. "(The announcement) will be next week sometime."
Stronach will announce then whether she intends to step down as chief executive and president of Magna, the world's seventh biggest auto-parts maker, the source said.
Her father, Magna founder Frank Stronach, who remains company chairman, said last week he would step in to run the company if his daughter ran for the Conservative Party leadership.
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.
So far there is only one declared candidate for the leadership, Stephen Harper who stepped down as Alliance leader to run.
Another possible candidate for the leadership, former Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement, scheduled a news conference in Ottawa for Thursday morning to announce his intentions.
And Member of Parliament Chuck Strahl signaled this week his interest in his party's top job.
Party members choose a new leader in March.