Parti Québécois wins minority government, sets stage for sovereignty referendum
The party captured 59 seats, falling short of a majority, and its leader says a vote on separation will wait until 2029.
MONTREAL · The Parti Québécois will form a minority government after winning 59 seats in Quebec's election Monday, a result that revives the party's long-standing goal of holding a referendum on sovereignty. The total falls five seats short of the 64 needed for a majority in the National Assembly. PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon told cheering supporters in Montreal that a new chapter is beginning for the province. He has committed to launching a referendum to separate Quebec from Canada, but said the vote will wait until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029.
The outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec government was entirely shut out, losing every seat it held. Its leader, Christine Fréchette, who became premier earlier this year following François Legault's resignation, was defeated in her Trois-Rivières riding. In a concession speech, Fréchette accepted responsibility for the loss. “Quebecers wanted change, and I respect their choice,” she said. The party had governed Quebec for eight years but faced voter discontent over scandals and unpopular decisions.
The Quebec Liberal Party, led by Charles Milliard, won 40 seats and will serve as the official Opposition. The Quebec Conservative Party, under Éric Duhaime, made a historic breakthrough by electing 19 members and gaining official party status. Both opposition leaders immediately declared their intent to block any sovereignty referendum. “Preparing your referendum will find you facing a clear opponent in the Liberal Party,” Milliard said. Duhaime said his party would act as a “guard dog” to protect taxpayer interests and try to stop a separation vote.
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In his victory address, St-Pierre Plamondon framed sovereignty as a democratic right. “A referendum is an opportunity to decide for ourselves,” he told the crowd. “It’s an act of democracy. It’s not up to anyone but us, as a people, to decide our national future.” He pledged to incorporate ideas from other parties into his government's budget and to collaborate with Quebec's English-speaking community and Prime Minister Mark Carney when it benefits the province. “I want to tell him that every time he’ll defend the interests of Quebec, he’ll find in me a partner in dialogue and collaboration,” the premier-designate said.
The left-wing sovereigntist party Québec solidaire, which elected nine members, could hold the balance of power in the minority legislature. Its co-spokesperson, Ruba Ghazal, said the party looks forward to building an inclusive country. The PQ's referendum plans would likely require support from Québec solidaire, as both the Liberals and Conservatives oppose them. The election outcome is expected to intensify calls for electoral reform, as the PQ is projected to have received less than 30 per cent of the popular vote, a historic low for a governing party.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon on social media. “Building a stronger Québec is core to our mission of building a stronger Canada,” Carney wrote. “I look forward to working with you to support Québec’s businesses and workers impacted by tariffs, create more good jobs, work to end homelessness, and get more homes built across Québec.” He also thanked Fréchette for her service. The PQ's victory marks a dramatic recovery for a party that held only three seats after the 2022 election.
Milliard, the Liberal leader, said his party is open to cooperation on issues that improve life in Quebec but drew a firm line on sovereignty. “But to prepare your referendum, you’ll find a determined opposition,” he said. The PQ has also promised to sharply reduce temporary immigration and to introduce legislation abolishing the monarchy in Quebec, redirecting the lieutenant-governor's budget to fight homelessness. The party's win comes nearly 50 years after its founder, René Lévesque, first led the PQ to power with a mandate to hold a referendum on sovereignty.
With files from The Canadian Press, iPolitics and CBC News