Separatist Parti Québécois Wins Quebec Election, Falls Short of Majority

Quebec’s separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) has won the province’s election, returning to power after more than a decade and setting the stage for a renewed debate over Quebec’s future within Canada.

Led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the PQ secured 59 of the 127 seats in the National Assembly—five short of the 64 required for a majority. The party will therefore govern as a minority government and will need support from opposition lawmakers to pass legislation.

The victory represents a challenge for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to promote national unity. At the same time, the PQ’s failure to secure a majority offers some reassurance to federalist forces that want Quebec to remain part of Canada.

Plamondon has pledged to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty during the party’s first term. However, he has said the vote will not be held while U.S. President Donald Trump remains in office. The PQ leader previously said the referendum would be delayed until after Trump leaves the White House, with 2029 emerging as the earliest possible timeframe.

The PQ won only about 27.9 percent of the popular vote, according to preliminary results, making it the lowest vote share for a winning party in Quebec’s history. The party’s victory was aided by the division of votes among several federalist and other parties. Public support for Quebec independence currently stands at around 30 percent.

The election comes at a sensitive time for Canada, which is facing significant economic and political pressure in its relationship with the United States, including tariffs and trade tensions under the Trump administration. The issue of Quebec sovereignty could add another layer of complexity to Ottawa’s efforts to maintain national unity.

Plamondon, 49, is a lawyer and has led the Parti Québécois since 2020. Following the election results, supporters celebrating in Montreal revived the party’s longstanding separatist slogan, “Quebec is a country.”

The result is also being closely watched because Alberta is expected to hold a separate vote later this month on whether the province should begin a process toward independence from Canada. The developments in both provinces have intensified discussion about national unity across the country.

For the PQ, the election marks a significant political comeback. The party had won only three seats in the 2022 election but has now returned to government with a clear mandate to advance its sovereignty agenda. However, its minority status means the party will have to negotiate with opposition parties as it governs.