The Parti Québécois won Quebec’s election Monday but fell short of a majority. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will form a minority government.
In unofficial results, the PQ won or led in 59 seats in the 127-seat National Assembly and needs five more for a majority of 64. The Liberals won or led in 40 and form the Official Opposition, the Conservatives in 19 and Québec solidaire in nine.
The Coalition Avenir Québec fell from 79 seats at the start of the campaign to none. Premier Christine Fréchette lost Trois-Rivières to the PQ’s Jean Pellerin and conceded, saying she respects the voters’ decision.
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The PQ won 28.0% of the vote in preliminary results, ahead of the Liberals at 24.3% and the Conservatives at 20.7%. The CAQ’s 13.3% produced no seats, while Québec solidaire’s 12.4% produced nine.
Turnout reached 67.3% in preliminary figures, close to 2022’s 66%.
The PQ needs another party’s support, and Québec solidaire’s nine seats would take it past 64.
Liberal leader Charles Milliard said the PQ must consider other parties, but the Liberals will not collaborate on a referendum. Conservative leader Éric Duhaime won Bellechasse, the party’s first election victory since 1935, and pledged to defend taxpayers and work to stop a referendum vote.
St-Pierre Plamondon has promised a referendum on sovereignty during his first term but not before Trump’s term ends in January 2029. An August Léger poll put support for independence at 31%.
Read: Quebec Separatists Delay Independence Referendum Until Trump Leaves
Quebec’s 2025-26 budget projected a record $13.6-billion deficit, which the PQ now inherits. Some bond investors grew wary last year as the PQ topped polls and promised a secession vote.
Prime Minister Mark Carney offered congratulations and said he wants to work with St-Pierre Plamondon on helping Quebec firms and workers cope with tariffs.
