CHICOUTIMI – Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate Mireille Jean easily won the Chicoutimi provincial byelection Monday night.
Jean strolled to victory in the traditionally nationalist riding, leaving Liberal Francyne T. Gobeil and Hélène Girard of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)far behind.
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She had around 45 per cent of the popular vote.
The position had been vacant since last October after Parti Québécois MNA Stéphane Bédard stepped down.
Bédard had represented the riding for 17 years.
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Chicoutimi has been in the hands of the Parti Québécois for 43 years.
The result does little to change the makeup of the 125-seat National Assembly, where the Liberals have 71 seats, the PQ now has 30 and the CAQ, 20.
Québec Solidaire has three members and there is one Independent.
-With files from Canadian Press
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