Parti Québécois projected to form minority government as CAQ wiped off the map

The Parti Québécois is expected to form a minority government in Quebec, marking a dramatic political comeback and setting the stage for a potential third referendum on sovereignty.

The party was leading in 59 of the province’s 127 ridings just after 11:30 p.m. Monday after polls closed across the province three hours earlier.

The Coalition Avenir Québec, which has governed the province for the past eight years, was entirely wiped off the map. Even leader Christine Fréchette, who took over following former premier François Legault’s resignation earlier this year, failed to win a seat in her hometown of Trois-Rivières.

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“There is a new chapter in our nation that is starting over the next few years,” said PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon as he addressed a boisterous crowd in his victory speech. “This dream of being a nation will one day be realized.”

“Quebecers have spoken tonight. They decided to elect a Parti Québécois government while also asking it to work with the other parties. I understand that message perfectly, and I will do everything I can to live up to what Quebecers are asking of us,” the PQ leader said.

The crowd of supporters exploded with cheers, with supporters dressed in blue and white chanting “Quebec, a country,” in French.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated the Quebec premier-designate.

“I look forward to working with you to support Québec’s businesses and workers impacted by tariffs, create more good jobs, work to end homelessness, and get more homes built across Québec,” he wrote in his statement.

He also thanked outgoing Premier Fréchette.

“Thank you, Premier @CFrechette, for your service to Québec and to Canada. We got a lot done together — from Churchill Falls to one of the largest infrastructure investments in Québec’s history. I wish you all the best in what comes next.”

In her concession speech, Fréchette said she takes full responsibility for the party’s loss.

“Quebecers have spoken. Their choice is clear. I respect it. The result is clearly not the one we were hoping for. And as leader, I take full responsibility. Not our candidates, not our activists, not our volunteers. Me,” she said.

21:18 “This dream of being a nation will one day be realized”: Quebec Premier-elect Plamondon’s full victory speech

Among the key wins Monday night were Québec solidaire co-spokespeople Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zanetti, Conservative Party of Quebec Leader Éric Duhaime and Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, all of whom secured their seats in the National Assembly after high-profile campaigns.

Duhaime was the first candidate to be elected under the Conservative banner in modern history, although the party has had a recent presence in the legislature in former CAQ member Maïté Blanchette Vézina, who crossed the floor.

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“Hope is being reborn in Quebec, because tonight we have just written a page of history,” Duhaime said at his election watch party in Lévis. “For the first time in 100 years, Quebecers have decided to send a large caucus of Conservative MNAs to the National Assembly.”

As of 11:30 p.m., the Liberals were leading in 40 ridings, the Conservatives in 19, Québec solidaire in nine and the incumbent CAQ in none.

“The results mean that the Parti Québécois does not have all the powers to do whatever they want,” Milliard said Monday night. “We will be collaborating on many issues that actually matter to Quebecers but there is no way that we will collaborate on a potential referendum. No way.”

Throughout the campaign, St-Pierre Plamondon pledged to launch a referendum to separate Quebec from Canada if his party forms government, but not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029.

10:23 Quebec election 2026: Outgoing premier Christine Fréchette’s concession speech as PQ en route to win

After two straight CAQ majority governments, St-Pierre Plamondon spent most of his campaign on the offensive, capitalizing on Quebecers’ desire for change.

“The change you are hoping for is in your hands,” St-Pierre Plamondon said as he went to cast his own ballot in his eastern Montreal riding of Camille-Laurin.

He added that he was proud of his party’s campaign, noting it was the only one to visit all of the province’s regions. He spent his last day of the campaign in Montreal, where the PQ was hoping to flip seats after a decade of weak PQ support.

2:12 Quebec voters head to polls as PQ poised for possible return to power

St-Pierre Plamondon’s rivals ended their campaigns by warning voters against choosing a party that will trigger a referendum.

Milliard voted in North Hatley, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships region, where he was elected for the first time. Milliard said he was confident but taking nothing for granted.

Fréchette voted in the central Quebec riding of Trois-Rivières, taking a final shot at the PQ’s sovereignty aspirations. “I’m inviting Quebecers to reflect about what happens next,” she said.

“Do they want a government who will commit us to a referendum campaign that shakes up everything,” she said, “or to remain with a government that is betting on economic stability and improving services?”

4:56 Quebec election 2026: “Last thing we need to talk about is a referendum,” Liberal candidate says as PQ jumps out to early lead

Ghazal voted in the Montreal-area riding of Mercier, where she was re-elected for a third time. “We’ve been talking about this for 40 days,” said Ghazal as she arrived at the polling station. “Today, it is Quebecers who will have their say.”

Later Monday night, Ghazal told a room full of Québec solidaire supporters that despite the odds, the party had fought hard.

“What a great campaign. We resisted. It felt like we were starting from pretty far behind. But damn, we fought like only the left knows how to fight,” she said.

Duhaime voted in a riding on the south shore of Quebec City. “The election campaign is over,” Duhaime said. “Today, Quebecers have a unique opportunity to continue to show our commitment to our democracy.”

When the election was called, the CAQ held 79 seats, the Liberals had 18, Québec solidaire 11 and the PQ held seven seats. There were nine Independents and one Conservative.

2:18 Parti Québécois under scrutiny over report of U.S. influence as Quebec election polls show it leads

Throughout the campaign Fréchette had said her party was the only one that was offering an alternative to the province’s sovereigntist-federalist dichotomy, by focusing on nationalism and economic growth within Canada.

Fréchette said she was proud of her campaign, but also expressed regret over failing to put more emphasis on the threat posed by a referendum.

“It’s important for people to realize this, because it’s not just a decision that could affect Quebec in three years,” she said Sunday. “There will be impacts because uncertainty will become part of Quebec’s political and economic calendar.”

Fréchette ended her campaign by door-knocking in her riding.

The Trois-Rivières native was elected in the riding of Sanguinet and was named immigration minister. Less than two years later she changed mandates to energy and economy minister.

She campaigned on affordability, health care and support for families and seniors, with promises including more money for home care and school-related expenses.

But the CAQ had been plagued by scandals and troubled projects in recent years, including the SAAQclic fiasco, cost overrun of an IT project at Santé Québec, the failed Northvolt project and, during the election campaign, a controversy over unsubstantiated allegations of foreign interference.

Former politicians and experts have used the term “glass cliff” to describe a woman assuming a leadership position when an organization is already facing a high risk of failure.

Milliard described his party on Sunday as the only federalist option. He urged voters who want to avoid a PQ government to vote strategically for his candidates.

He warned that a PQ minority would be seeking support for a referendum among the other parties.

3:19 Are women under-represented in Quebec provincial politics?

“One party that Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon won’t be calling up is the Liberal Party of Quebec, because we’re proudly federalist and not ashamed to say it,” he said.

During a campaign stop Sunday in St-Victor, Que., Milliard said his party had gained momentum since the start of the campaign, when he was criticized for not having a picture of himself on his party’s campaign bus — an image that was added later. He said the Liberal vote was likely underestimated in certain regions.

Duhaime, meanwhile, urged his supporters to cast enough votes on Monday to give his party a strong voice in the legislature. Duhaime has promised to use his leverage to act as a “guard dog” that will protect taxpayer interests and attempt to block a referendum vote.

Until Monday, the Quebec Conservatives hadn’t won a seat under Duhaime’s leadership, but they were expected to make a breakthrough that could give them the balance of power if no party won a majority in the legislature. Duhaime had said he was hoping his party would win at least 12 seats and official party status.

“I’m very, very serene, and I have confidence,” Duhaime said. “The only thing is, we have to make sure people go out and vote.”

In Montreal, Ghazal was making a final appeal to progressive sovereigntist voters who don’t identify with the “austerity” proposed by the PQ, and other parties, including Duhaime’s Conservatives.

“Send a signal that not all of Quebec has swung to the right or turned conservative, and also send people who will be the only ones to stand up to Éric Duhaime’s influence in the next parliament,” she said on Sunday.

–with files from The Canadian Press 

4:35 What did Quebec’s National Assembly look like before election was called

• What did Quebec’s National Assembly look like before election was called
• Parti Québécois sticking to its promise to call a referendum
• The PQ in possible majority territory in Quebec election
• Parti Québécois under scrutiny over report of U.S. influence as Quebec election polls show it leads
• What to know about the Quebec provincial election
• Are women under-represented in Quebec provincial politics?

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