The separatist Parti Québécois won Quebec’s provincial election on Monday, returning to power after more than a decade but falling short of the majority it sought in the 127-seat National Assembly.
Preliminary results showed the PQ leading in 59 ridings with about 28% of the vote after virtually all polling stations had reported. A majority requires 64 seats, meaning leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will need support from opposition lawmakers to pass key legislation and survive confidence votes.
Independence returns to the political agenda
The result gives the PQ control of the provincial government while reopening a debate that has shaped Canadian politics for generations. St-Pierre Plamondon campaigned on a promise to hold another referendum on Quebec independence, though he indicated after the vote that timing would depend on the wider political environment.
Support for sovereignty remains well below the levels seen around the 1995 referendum, and the election result also reflected dissatisfaction with the outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec government.
A minority government changes the path forward
Without a majority, the PQ will have to negotiate with other parties on budgets and major legislation. That constraint could slow or reshape parts of its program even as the party uses its return to office to push Quebec autonomy higher on the national agenda.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated the PQ leadership and emphasized cooperation between Ottawa and Quebec. The result will nevertheless be watched closely across Canada, particularly as national unity questions also surface in western provinces.
Sources
- Élections Québec preliminary results
- Associated Press, Oct. 6, 2026
