QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – The Parti Québécois is set to establish a minority government after emerging victorious in Quebec’s provincial election on Monday. The sovereigntist party achieved 59 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 garnered 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec secured 19 seats, while Québec solidaire obtained nine. The Coalition Avenir Québec did not win any seats after governing since 2018. These results mark a significant reversal from 2022, when the CAQ secured 90 seats and achieved a second consecutive majority. Currently, four parties will be represented in the National Assembly.
Initial results indicated that the Parti Québécois received approximately 27.9% of the popular vote, which is the lowest share ever recorded by a winning party in a Quebec provincial election. Voting was highly fragmented among the five main parties, resulting in no party holding a majority of seats in the legislature. Following the outcome, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his government would collaborate with other parties where cooperation advances Quebec’s interests. Élections Québec was still presenting these figures as preliminary after election night.
PQ re-enters power with a minority mandate
The election also brought Quebec sovereignty back to the forefront of provincial politics. St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding another referendum on independence once Donald Trump leaves office. 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 reaffirmed his pledge to hold a referendum.
He emphasized that such a referendum would give Quebecers the chance to decide their political future, but also acknowledged that a minority government would require support from other legislators for measures that need approval in the National Assembly. The Quebec Liberals campaigned against holding another sovereignty vote, while the Conservatives also opposed it. Québec solidaire supports Quebec independence but 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 marked the end of eight years of governance by the Coalition Avenir Québec. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette lost her bid in Trois-Rivières, as the CAQ failed to elect any representatives. The party entered the campaign after securing two consecutive majority victories under former premier François Legault. With their defeat, Quebec now has a new governing party for the first time since 2018. Fréchette conceded defeat and thanked supporters after the scale of losses became apparent.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon following the results, affirming that Ottawa was prepared to work with Quebec’s incoming government. Carney also thanked Fréchette for her service as premier. He stated that the federal government aims to support Quebec’s businesses and workers impacted by tariffs, while also focusing on creating jobs and expanding housing. St-Pierre Plamondon declared his intention to defend Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue with Ottawa. The PQ begins its term with a five-seat deficit in the National Assembly, short of a majority.