Quebec separatists win election, pledge independence referendum after Trump’s exit
The Parti Québécois (PQ), a party advocating Quebec independence, narrowly won the provincial election on Monday, October 6. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the PQ leader, is expected to become Quebec’s new premier. He has pledged to hold a referendum on Quebec’s future status within Canada following the conclusion of Donald Trump’s second term and his departure from the White House. The result presents a challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, which has consistently emphasized national unity in confronting trade tensions initiated by Trump. With already strained relations with the United States, the new provincial leadership further complicates Canada’s current political landscape.
Analysts note that the PQ’s victory was not unexpected, reflecting growing voter dissatisfaction with the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), a center-right party that had held power since 2018. In this week’s election, the CAQ lost all 79 seats it previously held in the National Assembly.
However, lacking the 64 seats needed for a majority, the PQ may face difficulties in fully implementing its policy agenda. Preliminary vote counts show the party securing 59 out of 127 seats in the National Assembly. The province’s new leader acknowledged that advancing an independence referendum would require support from other parties. Quebec currently has approximately nine million residents.
The PQ previously attempted two referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995, both of which failed. Current polling indicates that only 30% of Quebec voters support leaving Canada—near the lowest level in history. Nevertheless, the prospect of another referendum has reemerged as a central topic in political discourse, marking the first time in three decades such a debate has regained prominence.
Plamondon stated that given the uncertainty surrounding the political climate and the economic damage caused by tariff measures, he does not wish to hold a referendum before Trump leaves office. In a speech on Monday evening, he told Trudeau that he would always prioritize Quebec’s interests while remaining open to dialogue based on that principle.
Nonetheless, certain PQ policy positions could heighten tensions with the federal government. The party opposes any federal plan to increase immigration quotas, advocates severing Quebec’s ties with the British monarchy, and rejects the proposed high-speed rail link between Quebec and Ontario.
Notably, preliminary results show that despite winning governance, the PQ received only 27.9% of the total vote. This reflects a fragmented vote among five major parties and represents one of the lowest vote shares ever recorded by a winning party in Quebec provincial elections.
In addition to Quebec, Alberta—the province in western Canada and a key hub for the country’s energy sector—will also hold a non-binding vote this month to gauge local public sentiment on independence.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878322875905024/
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