QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – Following Quebec’s provincial election held on Monday, the Parti Québécois is set to form a minority government. 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, marking the first time since 2014 that the party has returned to power. In the 2022 election, the PQ only secured three seats.
The Quebec Liberal Party obtained 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec gained 19 seats, while Québec solidaire secured nine. Meanwhile, the Coalition Avenir Québec did not win any seats after governing since 2018. This outcome marks a significant turnaround from 2022 when the CAQ won 90 seats and achieved a second consecutive majority. Now, four parties will hold seats within the National Assembly.
Initial results indicated that the Parti Québécois garnered approximately 27.9% of the popular vote, which is the lowest share ever recorded by a winning party in a Quebec provincial election. Support was distributed quite evenly among the five main parties, resulting in no single group having control of the legislature. Following the results, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his government would collaborate with other parties where cooperation aligns with Quebec’s interests. Élections Québec was still presenting these figures as preliminary after election night.
PQ Returns to Power with a Minority Mandate
The election also shifted provincial politics to place renewed emphasis on Quebec sovereignty. 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 particularly close, with the federalist side narrowly winning. During the 2026 campaign, the PQ leader reiterated his pledge to hold a referendum.
He emphasized that a referendum would give Quebecers the opportunity to decide their future political status. Acknowledging that a minority government would need support from other legislators for motions requiring approval, he pointed out that the Quebec Liberals campaigned against another sovereignty vote, as did the Conservatives. Québec solidaire, though supporting Quebec independence, differs from the PQ on several policy issues. Currently, no party holds the 64 seats necessary for a majority.
CAQ Loses All Seats After Eight Years in Power
The election concluded eight years of governance by the Coalition Avenir Québec. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette was defeated in her race in Trois-Rivières, as the CAQ failed to elect any members. The party’s campaign followed two consecutive majority wins under former premier François Legault. With this loss, Quebec now has a new governing party for the first time since 2018. Fréchette acknowledged the defeat and thanked supporters as the scale of losses became evident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon on the election results, stating that Ottawa was prepared to work with Quebec’s incoming government. He also expressed gratitude to Fréchette for her service as premier. Carney emphasized that the federal government intends to support Quebec’s businesses and workers affected by tariffs, as well as creating jobs and expanding housing. St-Pierre Plamondon assured that he would prioritize Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue with Ottawa. The PQ begins its mandate with five seats shy of a majority.