Quebec separatist PQ wins election two weeks before Alberta's own referendum
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon led his party back from near-collapse to victory in Quebec, falling short of a majority but positioned to work with Québec solidaire on a possible third sovereignty referendum.
Why it matters
The Quebec result arrives just ahead of Alberta's own referendum on separation, drawing comparisons between the two provinces' independence movements.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon won Quebec's provincial election, rebuilding a party that held just three seats after the 2022 vote. His Parti Québécois fell short of the 64 seats needed for a majority in the National Assembly but could work with the sovereigntist Québec solidaire party on plans for a third referendum on Quebec independence.
St-Pierre Plamondon, who became PQ leader in 2020 on a promise to hold a referendum if elected, said before the campaign began that he would wait until U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House before pursuing one. The PQ had not held power since 2014, when Pauline Marois's minority government dissolved, but gained momentum by winning four byelection seats before this year's legislature was dissolved in August.
The win comes two weeks before Alberta is set to hold its own referendum on the possibility of separation. Asked about the timing, St-Pierre Plamondon told CJAD radio that voting in a democracy carries no danger.
During the campaign, St-Pierre Plamondon leaned on nationalist sentiment, attacked the monarchy and linked immigration to pressures on housing, the French language, education and public services. He downplayed his referendum plans in the campaign's final stretch.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.