The Parti Québécois won Quebec’s provincial election, returning to power for the first time since 2014. It took 59 of the National Assembly’s 127 seats, leaving it short of a majority.
Official results from the October 5 election show the party received about 1.2 million votes, or 28%. A majority in Quebec’s National Assembly requires 64 seats. The Associated Press also reported that the PQ will form a minority government.
Four years ago, the party held just three seats. After its victory, leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said his government would speak candidly with residents about coming changes. He again pledged to pursue a referendum on Quebec independence.
The result puts the question of Quebec’s separation from Canada back at the center of provincial politics. A minority government will need support from other lawmakers to pass legislation, and a referendum is not assured. The AP notes that most Quebec residents do not support independence.
Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking Canadian province. The PQ advocates sovereignty and the protection of French language and local culture. Official election figures show a sharp increase in the party’s representation compared with the 2022 vote.