QUEBEC / RankWire.AI / – The Parti Québécois has emerged victorious in Quebec’s provincial election, capturing 59 seats and establishing a minority government. The party fell five seats short of the 64 needed for a majority in the 127-member National Assembly. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is set to become Quebec’s next premier. This outcome marks the first time since 2014 that the Parti Québécois has returned to government, after a 2022 election in which it gained only three seats.
The Quebec Liberal Party secured second place with 40 seats and will serve as the official opposition. The Conservative Party of Quebec obtained 19 seats, while Québec solidaire finished with nine. After eight years in government, the Coalition Avenir Québec did not win any seats, marking a significant shift from the 2022 election when the CAQ obtained 90 seats. The new legislature will comprise four parties, none of which hold enough seats to govern independently.
Initial estimates placed the Parti Québécois at approximately 27.9% of the popular vote. That percentage was sufficient to form the largest caucus, despite support being dispersed among several prominent parties. The Liberals, Conservatives, CAQ, and Québec solidaire each attracted substantial segments of the vote. Élections Québec continued to classify the election-night figures as preliminary while the official count was still underway. The distribution of seats means that the incoming government will depend on support from other parties to pass legislation requiring a majority.
Parti Québécois returns to power without a majority
The election reignited the debate over Quebec sovereignty in provincial politics. St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding another referendum on independence once Donald Trump leaves office. Referendums in 1980 and 1995 saw Quebec voters reject sovereignty, with the latter narrowly resulting in a federalist victory. Throughout the 2026 campaign, the Parti Québécois maintained independence as a central goal while also seeking a mandate on broader provincial issues.
Forming a minority government will require cooperation in the National Assembly, especially on confidence votes and legislative matters. During the campaign, the Quebec Liberals opposed holding another sovereignty referendum, and the Conservatives also rejected a new vote on independence. Québec solidaire supports Quebec sovereignty but differs from the Parti Québécois on various policy issues. With 59 seats, the PQ holds the largest bloc but lacks outright control, making opposition parties influential in votes that determine legislation’s passage.
CAQ wiped out after two successive majorities
The election results ended the Coalition Avenir Québec’s tenure in government, which began with its victory in 2018. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette lost her race in Trois-Rivières, and the party failed to elect any representatives. The CAQ had achieved consecutive majority governments prior to the 2026 defeat. Its decline marked the end of an era, removing a dominant force from the previous legislature. Fréchette acknowledged the outcome and expressed gratitude to supporters after the extent of the losses became apparent, bringing an eight-year CAQ government to a close.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated the new premier and assured that Ottawa was ready to collaborate with Quebec’s new administration. He also thanked Fréchette for her service as premier. Carney emphasized that the federal government remains committed to supporting Quebec’s workers and businesses, including those impacted by tariffs. The provincial election results leave the Parti Québécois five seats short of a majority as it prepares to assume office, marking a return to power after more than a decade with its first PQ government in recent memory.