QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – After the recent provincial election in Quebec, the Parti Québécois emerged victorious with 59 seats, enabling it to establish a minority government. Falling five seats short of the 64 needed for a majority in the 127-member National Assembly, the party’s leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is expected to become Quebec’s next premier. This marks the first time since 2014 that the Parti Québécois has returned to power, having only secured three seats in the 2022 election.
The Quebec Liberal Party came in second with 40 seats, positioning itself as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec obtained 19 seats, while Québec solidaire finished with nine. After eight years in office, the Coalition Avenir Québec did not secure a single seat. This election results in a significant shift from 2022, when the CAQ won 90 seats. The Quebec legislature will now feature four parties, none of which hold enough seats to govern independently.
Initial data indicated that the Parti Québécois garnered approximately 27.9% of the popular vote. Despite this, their support was enough to form the largest caucus, as votes were dispersed among several major parties. The Liberals, Conservatives, CAQ, and Québec solidaire each drew substantial portions of the electorate. Élections Québec continued to classify the results as preliminary while the official verification was underway. The distribution of seats means that the new government will rely on support from other parties to pass legislation requiring a majority.
Parti Québécois reclaims power without an outright majority
This election also brought the issue of 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. Historically, Quebec voters rejected sovereignty in referendums held in 1980 and 1995; the latter narrowly favored federalism. Throughout the 2026 campaign, the Parti Québécois maintained independence as a core goal, while also seeking a broader mandate on provincial issues.
A minority government will require collaboration within the National Assembly for confidence votes and legislation. During the campaign, the Quebec Liberals opposed holding another sovereignty referendum, and the Conservatives also rejected a new vote on independence. While Québec solidaire supports Quebec sovereignty, it differs from the Parti Québécois on several policy areas. With 59 seats, the PQ commands the largest bloc but does not have full control, meaning opposition parties will play a crucial role in legislative votes.
CAQ eliminated from the legislature after two consecutive majorities
The election results signaled the end of the Coalition Avenir Québec’s governance, which began with their 2018 victory. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette was defeated in Trois-Rivières, as the CAQ failed to elect any members in the election. Having secured consecutive majority governments before 2026, the party’s collapse marks a major shift in Quebec’s political landscape. Fréchette acknowledged the defeat, thanked supporters, and conceded after the scale of the losses was made clear, concluding an eight-year era of CAQ leadership.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated the new premier and expressed Ottawa’s readiness to work with Quebec’s government. He also thanked Fréchette for her service. Carney reaffirmed that the federal government remains committed to supporting Quebec workers and businesses, including those impacted by tariffs. As the Parti Québécois prepares to take office with 59 seats, Quebec enters a new legislative period, its first PQ government in over ten years.