Quebec Separatist Party Wins Election, Forms Minority Government

Quebec’s separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) returned to power for the first time in over a decade after winning Monday’s provincial election, but failed to secure a majority, forming a minority government.

St-Pierre Plamondon acknowledged the voters' message, stating that Quebecers elected the PQ to work with other parties. He reaffirmed his pledge to hold another referendum on independence, framing it as a question of survival for Quebec's French-speaking identity. However, he stated the vote would occur after US President Donald Trump is no longer in office, explaining that it would require conditions that allow for an informed and serene debate and could not be hijacked by the theatrics of an unpredictable president.

The PQ won its minority mandate with just 28 percent of the popular vote, the lowest share for any government in Quebec’s history. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), led by Christine Fréchette, was shut out of the legislature, and Fréchette lost her own seat. Québec Solidaire, another sovereignist party, won nine seats. Polls indicate that only about 30% of Quebecers currently support independence, contrasting with the 1995 referendum where sovereignty was defeated by a narrow margin of 54,288 votes.