QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – Following victory in Monday’s provincial election, the Parti Québécois will lead a minority government in Quebec. The sovereigntist party achieved 59 seats in the National Assembly out of 127, falling five seats short of the 64 required for a majority. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is expected to assume the role of Quebec’s next premier, marking the party’s return to power for the first time since 2014. In the 2022 election, the PQ secured only three seats.
The Quebec Liberal Party obtained 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec won 19 seats, with Québec solidaire claiming nine. Meanwhile, the Coalition Avenir Québec did not win any seats, despite governing the province since 2018. The outcome marks a stark change from 2022, when the CAQ secured 90 seats and a second consecutive majority. Currently, four parties will have representation in the National Assembly.
Initial results indicated that the Parti Québécois secured roughly 27.9% of the popular vote, the lowest percentage ever for a winning party in a Quebec provincial election. Voter support was dispersed among the five main parties, resulting in no party holding legislative control. Following the results, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his government would collaborate with other parties where cooperation benefits Quebec’s interests. Élections Québec was still presenting the figures as preliminary after election night.
PQ returns to power with a minority mandate
This election also brought Quebec sovereignty to the forefront of provincial politics once again. St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding another referendum on independence after Donald Trump leaves office. Quebec previously held sovereignty referendums in 1980 and 1995, both of which resulted in voters rejecting independence. The 1995 vote was notably close, with the federalist side prevailing by a narrow margin. During the 2026 campaign, the PQ leader reiterated his pledge to hold a referendum.
He emphasized that a referendum would give Quebecers a direct say over their political future. Recognizing the need for support from other legislators, he noted that a minority government would require cooperation for measures needing approval in the National Assembly. The Quebec Liberals campaigned against holding another referendum, with the Conservatives also opposing it. Québec solidaire supports independence but diverges from the PQ on several policy issues. No party currently holds the 64 seats necessary for a majority.
CAQ’s eight-year rule ends as all seats are lost
The election concluded the Coalition Avenir Québec’s eight-year governance. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette was defeated in her own race in Trois-Rivières, as the CAQ failed to elect any representatives. The party entered the campaign after two consecutive majority wins under former premier François Legault. Its defeat signifies Quebec now has a new ruling party for the first time since 2018. Fréchette acknowledged the results, thanking supporters after the scale of the losses became evident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon on the election outcome and expressed Ottawa’s readiness to collaborate with Quebec’s new government. He also praised Fréchette for her service as premier. Carney stated that the federal government aims to support Quebec’s businesses and workers affected by tariffs, while fostering job creation and housing growth. St-Pierre Plamondon assured he would advocate for Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue with Ottawa. The PQ begins its term with five seats shy of a majority.