WorldPosted at: Oct 6 2026 9:58PM


Canada’s separatist Parti Québécois wins Quebec provincial election though falls slightly short of majority

Quebec City, Oct 6 (UNI) The separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) has won Quebec’s provincial election, returning to power for the first time in more than a decade though it fell short of the majority needed to govern alone.
The party, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, was on course to win nearly 60 seats as the final votes were counted, falling thinly below the 64 required for a majority in Quebec’s 127-member National Assembly. The minority government will need support from opposition parties to pass key legislation and survive confidence votes.
The PQ has pledged to hold another referendum on Quebec independence from Canada, although, citing the ongoing political uncertainty, Plamondon has said he will not call one until US President Donald Trump leaves the White House. He has also said his government will work with Ottawa when it serves Quebec’s interests.
A widely expected result, the victory ends the centre-right Coalition Avenir Quebec government’s tenure, which began in 2018, reflecting voter fatigue with the governing party.
The PQ previously governed Quebec and held unsuccessful independence referendums in 1980 and 1995. Polls indicate support for independence is currently around 30%, close to historic lows.
The result could potentially mark a new challenge for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has stressed heavily on the importance of national unity as Canada confronts Trump’s tariffs and his consistent statements about making the country, the US’ 51st state.
Carney said earlier on Monday that he would work with whoever Quebec chose as its next premier. Political science professor Daniel Béland of McGill University said the result should not be viewed as a rejection of Carney, who remains popular in Quebec, but warned that a separatist provincial government created a new national-unity challenge.
Some PQ policies could also create strong tensions with Ottawa, such as the party’s opposition to any federal effort for increasing immigration levels, a pledge to end Quebec’s ties to the British monarchy and a commitment to block a proposed high-speed rail line linking Quebec and Ontario.
The Quebec result comes two weeks before Alberta votes on October 19 on whether to hold a referendum on separation from Canada.
Quebec, which is about 80% French-speaking, already has significant autonomy within the federation. It collects its own income tax, operates immigration policies that favour French speakers and has laws giving French priority over English.
Trump’s tariffs and threats against Canada have also complicated the separatist argument by fuelling Canadian nationalism and giving some French-speaking Quebecers another reason to value remaining part of Canada.
The issue became a defining factor in Canada’s 2025 federal election, with Trump’s trade measures and rhetoric helping the Liberals under Carney win after the party had trailed significantly before Trump returned to office.
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