Québec solidaire

Foundation and Early History

Québec solidaire was officially founded on 4 February 2006 in Montreal through the merger of two left-wing and sovereigntist groups. These were the Union des forces progressistes (UFP), a political party, and Option Citoyenne, an alter-globalization social movement led by Françoise David. In opposition, activists drafted the Manifeste pour un Québec solidaire, which later gave the new party its name and foundational principles. At its founding congress, the party adopted a declaration of principles and appointed Françoise David and Amir Khadir as its first co-spokespersons, establishing the dual-gender leadership model that continues today. 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 the riding of Sainte-Marie, Saint-Jacques. The party contested the 2007 general election, winning 3.65 percent of the popular vote and 144,418 votes, finishing just 0.21 percent behind the Green Party of Quebec. A significant early endorsement came from the Montreal Central Council of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, representing 125,000 members, marking the first time a Quebec trade union endorsed a party to the left of the Parti Québécois.

Electoral Breakthroughs and Growth

A significant breakthrough occurred in the 2008 election when Amir Khadir was elected in the Montreal riding of Mercier, becoming the party's first Member of the National Assembly (MNA). The party expanded its representation in the 2012 election, with Khadir being re-elected and Françoise David winning in the riding of Gouin. Following his election, Khadir stepped down as co-spokesperson in accordance with party rules, leading to André Frappier and then Andrés Fontecilla serving as the male co-spokesperson. The 2014 election saw a third MNA join the caucus when Manon Massé was elected in Sainte-Marie, Saint-Jacques, with David and Khadir both being re-elected. Following David's retirement for health reasons in early 2017, Massé became interim female co-spokesperson. She was later confirmed in the role alongside Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, a prominent student protest leader, who joined the party and won the Gouin by-election. At its 2017 convention, the party voted against cooperation with the Parti Québécois and instead approved a merger with the sovereigntist Option nationale party, which was finalized in December 2017.

The 2018 election marked another step forward as Massé was put forward as the party's candidate for premier. The party gained seven seats, bringing its total to ten and tying the Parti Québécois. This result earned Québec solidaire official party status in the legislature in November 2018, and it was recognized as the second opposition party in March 2019. In the 2022 election, the party finished second in the popular vote for the first time, winning 15.4 percent, and secured eleven seats, its highest count at the time. However, it did not attain official opposition status and, along with the Parti Québécois, initially sat as independents because it did not meet the seat threshold. A by-election victory in Saint-Henri, Sainte-Anne in March 2023 brought its seat count to a record twelve, which qualified it for official party status.

Leadership Transitions and Internal Structure

Québec solidaire operates on a model of collective leadership rather than having a single party leader. Executive functions are divided among a president, a secretary general, and two national co-spokespersons, one man and one woman. The co-spokespersons are the party's most public figures and are often referred to as its de facto leaders. The party's statutes require that if one spokesperson is an MNA, the other must remain outside the legislature and serve as party president. This structure is overseen by a National Coordinating Committee, composed of 16 persons. The secretary general serves as the party's de jure leader for the purposes of Quebec's election laws, a legal requirement the party meets while maintaining its internal collective model. The basic organizational units are local riding associations, which are grouped into 19 regional associations. The party also includes a Political Committee with 14 thematic committees responsible for developing the party program, and a National Commission for Women tasked with ensuring feminist principles are integrated across all party activities. Furthermore, Québec solidaire permits the formation of internal collectives, such as Gauche Socialiste and Option nationale, which allow members to promote specific political viewpoints within the party's broader framework.

The party has seen several leadership transitions. Founding co-spokespersons Françoise David and Amir Khadir served until 2017 and 2012, respectively. Manon Massé served as female co-spokesperson from 2017 until November 2023, when Émilise Lessard-Therrien was elected at a party congress in Gatineau with 50.3 percent of the vote in a second round against Ruba Ghazal. Lessard-Therrien resigned in April 2024 citing exhaustion, and after an interim period led by Christine Labrie, Ruba Ghazal was elected to the role uncontested in November 2024. On the male side, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois served from 2017 until his resignation in March 2025, after which Guillaume Cliche-Rivard served as interim co-spokesperson. Sol Zanetti was elected as his successor in November 2025. Roxane Milot has served as party president since November 2023, elected with 98.4 percent support on an uncontested ballot. Carmen Palardy became secretary general in November 2024, succeeding Benjamin Gingras.

Core Ideology and Policy Platform

Québec solidaire's ideology is explicitly left-wing, combining sovereigntism with a strong commitment to social and environmental justice. The party's foundational declaration of principles, adopted unanimously at its founding, outlines its core identities as environmentalist, left-wing, democratic, feminist, alter-globalist, and in favour of a plural and sovereign Quebec. Its platform advocates for Quebec independence from Canada, which it frames as a necessary step to achieve social and ecological change. The party's policy proposals are wide-ranging and detailed. On economic justice, it proposes a new tax on the wealthiest households, specifically targeting the roughly 4,000 households with a net wealth exceeding 25 million dollars to raise an estimated 5 billion dollars annually for public services. To address the housing crisis, the party pledges to cap rent increases at the rate of inflation. To combat the high cost of groceries, it proposes creating a public grocery network, capping profit margins for large chains, and banning unfair pricing practices. In transportation, it commits to repairing existing public transit infrastructure and advancing projects like tramways in Quebec City and Gatineau.

During the 2022 election, spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois highlighted a plan to cut food waste in Quebec by 50 percent by mandating large businesses and institutions to donate unsold food. The party also strongly supports immigration, opposes all forms of discrimination, and champions Indigenous rights and participatory democracy. It describes itself as a sovereigntist, green, alter-globalizationist, and feminist party. While its declaration of principles does not explicitly endorse social democracy or socialism, it encompasses activists and tendencies that do, and as of 2026, it remains the most left-wing party represented in the National Assembly.

The 2026 General Election and Current Standing

Ruba Ghazal led Québec solidaire as its candidate for premier in the October 2026 Quebec general election. The election results presented a setback for the party, as it fell to fourth place in the National Assembly in terms of seats. Québec solidaire won nine seats, a decrease from its previous tally. The party maintained the majority of its electoral strongholds in Montreal, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke but did not achieve the breakthrough it sought in other regions. During the campaign, the party emphasized its platform of rebuilding social programs, making a new pact with municipalities, and advancing an inclusive sovereignty project built through a constituent assembly. It also continued to promote its specific policies on rent control, public groceries, and major investment in public transit. Following the election, the party continues to be represented by co-spokespersons Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zanetti, with Roxane Milot as president and Carmen Palardy as secretary general. It remains a distinct voice in Quebec politics, advocating for a sovereign, green, and socially equitable Quebec from its position as the smallest of the four represented parties.

Relationship with Other Political Formations

Québec solidaire was created to unify the sovereigntist left, and its relationship with other parties has been defined by this goal. From its inception, it has positioned itself as distinct from and to the left of the Parti Québécois (PQ). In 2017, the party's members voted against formal cooperation with the PQ. Instead, they pursued and completed a merger with the smaller sovereignist party Option nationale in December of that year. This merger granted Option nationale members collective status within Québec solidaire. The party is not formally affiliated with any federal political party in Canada, including the social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP). However, some of its members maintain dual affiliations, with federal NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice being a notable example. Internally, the party has hosted various political collectives, including Alternative socialiste, Gauche Socialiste, and Décroissance conviviale. The Parti Communiste du Québec, Parti Communiste du Canada left Québec solidaire following the 2017 merger with Option nationale.

Financial and Organizational Details

As a registered political party in Quebec, Québec solidaire is subject to provincial electoral financing laws and must file public financial reports. These reports detail contributions from individuals, any non-compliant contributions reclaimed from political entities, allocations from the state, and matching revenues paid to parties, MNAs, and independent candidates. The party's headquarters are located at 533 rue Ontario Est, bureau 010, in Montreal. Its organizational reach extends across the province through its network of 125 local riding associations, which are the basic unit of member activity. Campus associations for students and staff at higher education institutions also participate in the party's democratic processes. The party's internal collectives operate under specific requirements and do not have formal representation in the party's Congress or National Council, a structural difference from how factions operated within its predecessor, the UFP. This design is intended to maintain unity while allowing for diverse currents of thought within the party's overarching left-wing and sovereigntist framework.

Questions about Québec solidaire

What are the main political goals of Québec solidaire?

Québec solidaire's primary goals are to achieve Quebec's independence from Canada and to implement a left-wing social and economic program. The party advocates for a green transition, wealth redistribution through taxes on large fortunes, the expansion of public services, and strong tenant protections. It also emphasizes feminist principles, participatory democracy, and solidarity with Indigenous peoples and immigrants. Its platform is built on the idea that sovereignty is a tool to create a more just, ecological, and equitable society, with specific policies like capping rent increases and creating a public grocery network.

Who are the current leaders of Québec solidaire?

As of 2026, Québec solidaire is led by two co-spokespersons, Ruba Ghazal (female) and Sol Zanetti (male). The party president is Roxane Milot, and the secretary general is Carmen Palardy. The party uses a collective leadership model, so these roles share the responsibilities typically held by a single party leader in other political organizations. The co-spokespersons are the most public faces of the party and represent its positions in the media and during elections. The secretary general serves as the official party leader for legal purposes under Quebec's election laws.

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

Following the 2026 Quebec general election, Québec solidaire holds nine seats in the National Assembly. This result placed the party in fourth position among the parties represented. The election saw a reduction from the party's previous high of twelve seats, which it achieved after a by-election win in March 2023. Despite the decrease, the party maintained its core support in urban centres like Montreal, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke. Its current seat count determines its resources and speaking time 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 the Union des forces progressistes (UFP) political party and the Option Citoyenne social movement, which was led by Françoise David. The merger was a strategic response by left-wing sovereigntists to unify their forces against a neoliberal manifesto. The party's founding co-spokespersons were Françoise David and Amir Khadir. The party's name was taken from the Manifeste pour un Québec solidaire drafted by activists prior to the merger.

What is Québec solidaire's stance on Quebec independence?

Québec solidaire is a staunchly sovereigntist party that advocates for Quebec's independence from Canada. It views independence not as an end in itself but as a necessary political tool to build a more progressive, green, and socially just society. The party promotes an inclusive and progressive vision of sovereignty, aiming to build a broad coalition that includes Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and all regions of Quebec in the project. In the 2026 election, it proposed creating an assembly to develop an inclusive sovereignty project.

How does Québec solidaire's leadership structure work?

Québec solidaire employs a unique collective leadership structure instead of having a single leader. The party is represented by two co-spokespersons, one man and one woman, who are its public faces. If one spokesperson is a sitting MNA, the other must be outside the legislature and also serves as party president. A secretary general handles administrative and legal functions, including being the de jure party leader for election law purposes. A National Coordinating Committee of 16 elected members provides oversight. This model is designed to share power, encourage internal democracy, and uphold the party's feminist principles.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.