Power Shift in Quebec as PQ Set to Form Minority Government

The Parti Québécois is set to form a minority government in Quebec after winning 59 seats in the provincial election, marking a major shift in the province’s political landscape.

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will become Quebec’s next premier. In his victory speech, Plamondon described the result as the beginning of a new chapter and said he believes Quebec’s long-standing separatist aspirations could eventually be realized.

The election result also dealt a major blow to the Coalition Avenir Québec, which had governed the province for the past eight years. The party failed to win a seat, while its leader, Christine Fréchette, also lost her own riding.

The Quebec Liberal Party won 40 seats, while the Conservative Party of Quebec secured 19. The Conservatives had not held a seat in the legislature since 2022.

The minority government will face challenges in advancing its legislative agenda without a majority. Both the Liberals and Conservatives oppose Quebec separating from Canada and have indicated they would oppose any motion in the legislature seeking to advance separation.