QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – Following the provincial election held on Monday, the Parti Québécois will form a minority government in Quebec. The sovereigntist party achieved 59 out of the 127 seats in the National Assembly, falling five seats short of the 64 needed for a majority. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is expected to become Quebec’s next premier, as he leads the party back into power for the first time since 2014. In the 2022 election, the PQ secured only three seats.
The Quebec Liberal Party gained 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec obtained 19 seats, while Québec solidaire finished with nine. The Coalition Avenir Québec, which has governed since 2018, failed to win any seats in this election. This outcome represents a significant reversal from 2022 when the CAQ secured 90 seats and a second consecutive majority. Now, four parties will be represented in the National Assembly.
Initial results indicate that the Parti Québécois received approximately 27.9% of the popular vote, marking the lowest share of votes for a winning party in a Quebec provincial election. Support among the main five parties was broadly dispersed, resulting in no party having control over the legislature. Following the results, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his government would collaborate with other parties whenever such 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 the issue of Quebec sovereignty back to the forefront of provincial politics. St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding another independence referendum once Donald Trump leaves office. Quebec previously held sovereignty referendums in 1980 and 1995, with voters rejecting independence on both occasions. The 1995 vote was notably close, with the federalist side narrowly winning. During the 2026 campaign, the PQ leader reiterated his pledge to hold a referendum on independence.
He emphasized that a referendum would give Quebecers the chance to decide their political future. He also recognized that a minority government would require support from other legislators for any measures needing approval in the National Assembly. While the Quebec Liberals campaigned against another referendum, the Conservatives also opposed holding one. Québec solidaire, which supports Quebec independence, differs from the PQ on several policy matters. No single party holds the 64 seats necessary for a majority.
CAQ Loses All Seats After Eight Years in Power
The election marked the end of eight years under the Coalition Avenir Québec government. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette was defeated in her race in Trois-Rivières as the CAQ failed to elect any members. The party entered the campaign following two consecutive majority wins under former premier François Legault. With this defeat, Quebec will see a new governing party for the first time since 2018. Fréchette acknowledged the defeat, thanked supporters, and conceded after the scale of losses became apparent.
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon on the election outcome and expressed Ottawa’s willingness to collaborate with Quebec’s new government. Carney also thanked Fréchette for her service as premier. He stated that the federal government aims to support Quebec’s businesses and workers affected by tariffs, while fostering job creation and housing expansion. St-Pierre Plamondon committed to defending Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue with Ottawa. The PQ begins its mandate with five seats short of a majority.