Separatists win in Quebec – but does that bring separation from Canada any closer?
Lack of majority for Parti Québécois puts any referendum in doubt, especially amid bruising trade war with Trump The victory of the Parti Québécois in Monday’s election in Quebec might seem to bring its signature goal, of separating the French-speaking province from Canada, much closer – but Canadian unity may not be nearly as threatened as may first seem. The PQ’s victory was both impressive and…
The victory of Quebec's Parti Québécois (PQ) in the recent election might seem to bring the province's long-held goal of separating from Canada closer to reality. However, the PQ's narrow win, with only 56 seats in the National Assembly, leaves them unable to call a referendum on separation, especially given the five-year wait stipulated by their platform.
Their electoral performance was also disappointing, only securing 28% of the popular vote, the lowest in Canadian history. The PQ's electoral success appears to stem from a desire to punish the current governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which lost all its seats in the election. This upset could reflect Quebecers' disinterest in another debate about the province's ties to Canada, particularly after the trade war with the United States under former President Donald Trump.
The PQ's leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, acknowledged his challenge in not seeming to threaten Canada's unity, pledging to be a "good-faith collaborator" with the rest of the country. The election also showed a shift in political power, with federalists and separatists forming an opposition alliance that won all the seats previously held by the CAQ.
Meanwhile, in Alberta, a province just south of Quebec, there is another potential threat to Canada's sovereignty as they prepare for a "referendum on a referendum" on secession. However, recent polls suggest Albertans are equally opposed to the idea of separation, regardless of the party in power.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
