Québec solidaire

Founding and Early Years

Québec solidaire was officially founded on 4 February 2006 in Montreal, born from the merger of the left-wing Union des forces progressistes (UFP) party and the social movement Option Citoyenne, led by Françoise David. The merger was a direct response to the neoliberal manifesto Pour un Québec lucide, with activists crafting Manifeste pour un Québec solidaire to present a progressive, sovereigntist alternative. At its founding congress, the party adopted a declaration of principles outlining its core values as environmentalist, leftist, democratic, feminist, alter-globalist, pluralist, and sovereigntist. Françoise David and Amir Khadir were named the party's first co-spokespersons, embodying its commitment to gender parity in leadership. The party's first electoral test came quickly, with candidate Manon Massé earning 22 percent of the vote in an April 2006 by-election in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques, a riding she would later represent as an MNA.

Electoral Breakthrough and Growth

Québec solidaire contested its first general election in 2007, winning 3.65 percent of the popular vote and receiving an endorsement from a major trade union council, a first for a party to the left of the Parti Québécois. A significant breakthrough occurred on 8 December 2008, when Amir Khadir was elected in the Montreal riding of Mercier, becoming the party's first Member of the National Assembly. This representation doubled in the 2012 election, with Khadir re-elected and Françoise David winning in Gouin, after which Khadir stepped down as co-spokesperson per party rules. The party's caucus grew to three after the 2014 election, with Manon Massé elected in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques. A major leadership transition occurred in January 2017 when David retired. Massé became interim spokesperson and was later confirmed in the role alongside Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, a prominent student protest leader. The 2018 election was a milestone, as the party tied the Parti Québécois with ten seats and was subsequently granted official party status in the legislature on 22 November 2018. In the 2022 election, Québec solidaire finished second in the popular vote with 15.4 percent and won eleven seats, though it initially lacked the seats for official status. The party regained that status after a March 2023 by-election win in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, bringing its seat count to a record twelve. The 2026 general election, led by co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal as candidate for premier, resulted in the party winning nine seats and placing fourth in the legislature, though it maintained its strongholds in Montreal, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke.

• 2008: Amir Khadir wins in Mercier, securing the party's first seat.
• 2012: Françoise David is elected in Gouin, doubling QS's parliamentary presence.
• 2014: Manon Massé wins Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques, bringing the caucus to three.
• 2018: The party wins ten seats, gaining official party status.
• 2022: QS achieves its highest popular vote share at 15.4% and wins eleven seats.
• 2023: The party wins a by-election in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, reaching a record 12 seats.
• 2026: Québec solidaire wins nine seats, maintaining its core urban strongholds.

Ideology and Policy Platform

Québec solidaire's ideology is a synthesis of democratic socialism, Quebec sovereigntism, feminism, environmentalism, and alter-globalism. The party's foundational aim was to unite the sovereigntist left, and it describes itself as the most left-wing party in the National Assembly. Its platform strongly emphasizes social justice, advocating for a strong public sector, wealth redistribution, and the expansion of social programs. Environmental policy is central, with commitments to a green transition and fighting climate change. The party is explicitly feminist, seeking to integrate gender equality across all policy areas and maintaining structural parity in its leadership. Québec solidaire supports participatory democracy, proportional representation, and the rights of Indigenous peoples and immigrants, and it opposes all forms of discrimination including racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Specific policy proposals have included ambitious plans to address contemporary crises. During the 2022 election, co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois pledged to cut food waste in half by mandating large businesses to donate unsold food. Other key 2026 proposals included capping rent increases at the rate of inflation, creating a public grocery network to lower food prices, and implementing a new tax on the wealthiest households to raise 5 billion dollars annually for public services like education and public transit. The party also promised major investments to repair and expand public transit infrastructure across Quebec, including advancing tramway projects in Quebec City and Gatineau.

Organizational Structure and Internal Groups

Québec solidaire distinguishes itself through a model of collective leadership, rejecting the traditional single-leader structure common in other parties. Executive functions are divided among a president, a secretary general, and two co-spokespersons, one male and one female. The co-spokespersons, such as the current duo of Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zanetti, act as the public faces and de facto leaders, while the secretary general serves as the de jure leader for electoral law purposes. The party's basic units are local associations in each of Quebec's 125 ridings, supported by 19 regional associations whose mandate is to establish and support these local groups. Campus associations for students and staff also participate in party democracy, and national commissions, including a Political Committee and a National Commission for Women, guide program development and ensure feminist principles are upheld across the organization.

The party also hosts a number of internal collectives, which are groups of members who promote specific political viewpoints within Québec solidaire. These groups do not hold formal representation in party governing bodies but contribute to internal debate and discussion on various political tendencies. Current collectives include Alternative socialiste, Décroissance conviviale, Gauche Socialiste, Laïcité, Mass critique, Socialisme Internationale, Tendance Marxiste Internationale, and the integrated Option nationale. The party is not formally affiliated with the federal New Democratic Party, though some members, like former federal MP Alexandre Boulerice, hold dual affiliations, and the Parti Communiste du Québec left QS following the merger with Option nationale in 2017.

Leadership History

The party's leadership has seen several transitions since its founding, always maintaining its dual-spokesperson model. The female co-spokesperson role was held by founding figure Françoise David until her retirement in January 2017. Manon Massé succeeded her, serving on an interim basis and then permanently until November 2023. Émilise Lessard-Therrien was then elected at a party congress in Gatineau but resigned in April 2024 citing exhaustion, after which Christine Labrie served briefly as interim spokesperson. Ruba Ghazal was elected to the position uncontested in November 2024 and led the party into the 2026 election. The male co-spokesperson role began with Amir Khadir, who stepped down in 2012 after being elected to the legislature, leading to an interim period under André Frappier. Andrés Fontecilla held the role from May 2013 to May 2017, when he was succeeded by Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who later resigned in March 2025 and was succeeded by Sol Zanetti in November 2025.

The presidency has been held by several key organizers, often overlapping with spokesperson roles. Alexa Conradi was the first president from 2006 to 2009, followed by Françoise David, who combined the role with her spokesperson duties from 2009 to 2012. Andrés Fontecilla also served as president during his time as co-spokesperson from 2013 to 2017. More recent presidents include Nika Deslauriers, Alejandra Zaga Mendez, and, since November 2023, Roxane Milot, who was elected with 98.4 percent support on an uncontested ballot. The secretary general, the administrative head recognized by Quebec's Chief Electoral Officer, has also changed over time, with recent officeholders including Nicolas Chatel-Launay, Benjamin Gingras, and, as of November 2024, Carmen Palardy.

Recent Electoral Performance and Position

Québec solidaire's electoral performance has shown both growth and consolidation in recent cycles, though it faced a setback in the 2026 general election. The 2022 election was a high-water mark in popular support, with the party finishing second in the popular vote for the first time, capturing 15.4 percent and winning eleven seats, its most ever. However, it briefly lost official party status after that vote due to not meeting the required seat threshold, a situation rectified by a March 2023 by-election win in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, which brought its seat count to a record twelve. The 2026 election, with Ruba Ghazal as candidate for premier, resulted in the party falling to fourth place in seat count but maintaining its core urban bases. It won nine seats, largely preserving its strongholds in Montreal, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke, with key victories for Ruba Ghazal in Mercier, Sol Zanetti in Jean-Lesage, and Stéphanie Vachon in Sherbrooke.

Despite the seat reduction in 2026, party figures expressed relief at having resisted a predicted collapse, with Ghazal stating the party had defied all prognostics and that the left was alive and well. Key re-elections included Ruba Ghazal in Mercier, Alexandre Leduc in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Andrés Fontecilla in Laurier-Dorion, Sol Zanetti in Jean-Lesage, and Étienne Grandmont in Taschereau. The party also saw new MNAs elected, including Roxane Milot in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques and Alexandre Boulerice in Gouin, who succeeded Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. As of 2026, Québec solidaire remains a distinct force advocating for sovereignty with ambitious social and ecological policies, led by co-spokespersons Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zanetti, with the party focusing on rebuilding social programs and making Quebec a country.

Questions about Québec solidaire

What are the main political goals of Québec solidaire?

Québec solidaire's primary goals are to achieve Quebec's independence, implement democratic socialist policies, and lead an ecological transition. The party advocates for a significant redistribution of wealth, including taxing the richest households to fund public services. It strongly supports feminist principles, participatory democracy, and strengthening Quebec's social safety net. Specific policy aims include capping rent increases, creating public grocery stores to lower food prices, and making large investments in public transit and green infrastructure.

Who are the current leaders of Québec solidaire?

As of late 2025 and following the 2026 election, Québec solidaire is led by its two co-spokespersons: Ruba Ghazal (female) and Sol Zanetti (male). Ruba Ghazal was elected co-spokesperson in November 2024 and was the party's candidate for premier in the 2026 election. Sol Zanetti was elected male co-spokesperson in November 2025. The party's president is Roxane Milot, elected in November 2023, and the secretary general is Carmen Palardy, who took on the role in November 2024.

How many seats does Québec solidaire have in the National Assembly?

Following the October 2026 Quebec general election, Québec solidaire holds nine seats in the National Assembly. This represents a decrease from the eleven seats it won in the 2022 general election. The party had previously held a record twelve seats briefly after a by-election in 2023. The 2026 election results saw the party fall to fourth place in the legislature.

When was Québec solidaire founded and by whom?

Québec solidaire was founded on 4 February 2006 in Montreal. It was created through the merger of two existing political entities: the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes (UFP) and the alter-globalization social movement Option Citoyenne, which was led by Françoise David. The merger was motivated by a desire to unite the sovereigntist left and present a progressive alternative to neoliberal policies. The party's first co-spokespersons were Françoise David and Amir Khadir.

What is Québec solidaire's relationship with the Parti Québécois?

Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois are both sovereigntist parties but occupy different spaces on the political spectrum, with QS being significantly further to the left. The two parties have historically been electoral competitors. In 2017, Québec solidaire's membership voted against formal cooperation with the Parti Québécois. Instead, QS pursued and completed a merger with the smaller sovereignist party Option nationale later that same year. They have occasionally been in similar parliamentary situations, such as both briefly losing official party status after the 2022 election.

How is Québec solidaire's leadership structure unique?

Québec solidaire employs a collective leadership model instead of having a single party leader. Leadership duties are shared among a president, a secretary general, and two co-spokespersons, one man and one woman, reflecting the party's feminist commitment. The co-spokespersons are the public faces and de facto leaders, while the secretary general is the de jure leader for official electoral purposes. This structure is designed to prevent the concentration of power and to ensure gender parity at the highest level of the party's public representation.

Sources and further reading

• Québec solidaire (Wikipedia)
• Québec solidaire | Élection 2026 | Accueil (quebecsolidaire.net)
• Québec solidaire sauve les meubles (ledevoir.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.