Separatist Parti Québécois Wins Quebec Election, Returns to Power

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Montreal: Quebec's separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) won the provincial election, regaining power after more than a decade and reigniting the political debate over whether the French-speaking province could eventually secede from Canada.
Led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the PQ won 59 of the 127 seats in Quebec's National Assembly, falling shy of the 64 required for a majority. As a result, the party will govern as a minority, relying on opposition party assistance to pass legislation and survive confidence votes.

Plamondon has committed to set up another vote on Quebec's independence. However, he has stated that such a vote will not take place while US President Donald Trump continues in power. The PQ's victory does not constitute a referendum mandate, and polling quoted by Canadian media shows that support for independence remains below a majority.

The election also dealt a significant loss to the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which had been in office since 2018. The party saw a dramatic drop in popularity, and CAQ leader Christine Fréchette acknowledged defeat. The outcome has been ascribed in part to voter unhappiness with the provincial government, rather than to increased support for Quebec sovereignty.
The PQ's resurgence coincides with broader issues about national unity in Canada, particularly separatist aspirations in Alberta. Quebec had independence referendums in 1980 and 1995, and voters rejected separation on both occasions.

The latest election has brought the independence question back to the forefront of Quebec politics, although the PQ's minority position may limit how rapidly it can execute its referendum preparations.