Parti Québécois wins minority government in Quebec

The Parti Québécois won Quebec’s provincial election and will form a minority government, taking 59 seats in the 127-seat National Assembly, five short of a majority. The result returns the sovereigntist party to power after more than a decade in opposition and leaves it needing support from other lawmakers to advance its agenda. The Liberals won 40 seats, the Conservatives 19 and Québec solidaire nine. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec won none, despite entering the campaign with 79 seats. Its leader, Christine Fréchette, also lost her seat. The results marked a sharp reversal from the 2022 election, when the Parti Québécois held three seats. Party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has promised a referendum on Quebec sovereignty, but said it would not take place while Donald Trump is U.S. president. The commitment is a stated intention, not a decision to hold a vote: the election result does not establish when or whether a referendum could proceed. Trump’s current term is due to end in 2029, and the PQ leader has said he would wait until then to pursue a vote. The minority status makes cooperation with other parties important for legislation and confidence votes.