Quebec Minority Government
Parti Québécois Wins Election to Form New Quebec Minority Government
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Key Points
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Joel Arseneau, the PQ candidate in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, was the first candidate declared elected; leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was later declared premier-designate after winning Camille-Laurin.
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Liberal leader Charles Milliard won Orford, while Québec solidaire leader Ruba Ghazal won Montreal’s Mercier riding.
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Before the election, Conservative leader Éric Duhaime said his party’s goal was to qualify as a recognized parliamentary group, which requires electing 12 MNAs or winning 20 per cent of the vote.
The separatist Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election, ending eight years of Coalition Avenir Québec rule and setting the stage for a sovereignty referendum on Canada's unity. CTV News projects the PQ will form a minority government, with leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon becoming premier after winning his Camille-Laurin riding. The victory marks a dramatic turnaround for a party that won just three seats in 2022.
Plamondon has pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum, but not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029. The Liberals are projected to become the official opposition, while the Conservative Party secured its first modern-era riding victory under its banner. Economic Times reports the PQ's win puts independence back on Canada's political agenda after years of dormancy.
PQ's Stunning Comeback From Three Seats to Power
The Parti Québécois experienced one of Quebec politics' most dramatic reversals. In 2022, the party won only three seats. This time, Richmond News reports the PQ was leading in nearly 60 ridings shortly after polls closed. Joel Arseneau became the first candidate declared elected in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, while Plamondon's victory in Camille-Laurin secured his path to the premier's office.
Liberals Face Opposition Role After Long Rule
The Coalition Avenir Québec governed Quebec for two consecutive majority mandates, but voters rejected their continuity. BBC confirmed the Liberals are now projected to form the official opposition. Liberal leader Charles Milliard successfully won his Orford riding but could not carry his party to power. The shift leaves Quebec's federalist forces fragmented.
Conservatives Break Through With Historic Riding Win
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime achieved a major milestone for his party by winning his own riding. Before the election, Duhaime set a modest goal: qualify as a recognized parliamentary group, which requires either 12 MNAs elected or 20 percent of the popular vote. The Conservative breakthrough in the modern era signals Quebec's political landscape is shifting beyond the traditional PQ-Liberal divide.
Referendum Timing and Canada's Constitutional Future
Plamondon's commitment to a referendum comes with a key condition: waiting until after Trump leaves the White House in 2029. The delay suggests the PQ leader wants to avoid complicating U.S.-Canada relations during the Trump presidency. Yahoo News notes the PQ's election victory adds a new test to Canada's unity, reigniting sovereignty debates that had quieted under the previous CAQ government.
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