QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – On Monday, the Parti Québécois (PQ) secured a minority government following Quebec’s provincial election. The sovereigntist party obtained 59 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 party’s return to power for the first time since 2014. In the 2022 election, the PQ managed only three seats.
During the election count, the Quebec Liberal Party secured 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec gained 19 seats, while Québec solidaire won nine. Meanwhile, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which had governed since 2018, failed to win any seats. This outcome represents a significant reversal from 2022, when the CAQ obtained 90 seats and secured a second consecutive majority. In total, four parties will now occupy seats in the National Assembly.
Early results indicated that the Parti Québécois received approximately 27.9% of the popular vote, marking the lowest vote share ever recorded by a winning party in a Quebec provincial election. Support was widely divided among the five major parties, resulting in no single party controlling the legislature. After the results, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his government would collaborate with other parties where mutual interests are served. Élections Québec continued to present the figures as preliminary after election night.
PQ forms government with a minority mandate
The election also brought Quebec sovereignty back into the spotlight of provincial politics. St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding another referendum on independence following the departure of U.S. President Donald Trump. Quebec previously held sovereignty referendums in 1980 and 1995, both of which resulted in voters rejecting independence. The 1995 referendum was particularly close, with the federalist side winning by a narrow margin. During the 2026 campaign, the PQ leader reiterated his vow to hold a referendum.
According to St-Pierre Plamondon, a referendum would provide Quebecers with a direct voice in deciding their political future. He also acknowledged that a minority government would require support from other legislators for measures needing approval by the National Assembly. Both the Quebec Liberals and Conservatives opposed holding another referendum, whereas Québec solidaire supports independence but differs from the PQ on various policy issues. No party has yet achieved the 64-seat threshold for a majority.
CAQ faces complete defeat after eight years in control
This election marked the end of the Coalition Avenir Québec’s eight-year governance. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette lost her 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. With this loss, Quebec now has a new ruling party for the first time since 2018. Fréchette acknowledged the outcome, thanked supporters, and conceded defeat once the scale of losses became evident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon on the election results and expressed Ottawa’s readiness to cooperate with Quebec’s incoming government. Carney also extended his thanks to Fréchette for her service as premier. He mentioned that the federal government aims to support Quebec’s businesses and workers affected by tariffs, as well as to create jobs and expand the housing market. St-Pierre Plamondon affirmed his intention to defend Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue with Ottawa. Currently, the PQ begins its term five seats shy of a majority.