How the separatist Parti Québécois took back power in Quebec - National Post

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks after winning the Quebec provincial election with a minority government, in Montreal on Oct. 5, 2026. Photo by Andrej Ivanov/AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentMONTRÉAL, QC — The rest of Canada will be waking up on Tuesday to a slightly less painful hangover than expected after Quebec elected a minority Parti Québécois government led by leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

The separatist party, which was nearly wiped off the electoral map four years ago, came roaring back just a few seats shy from a majority. However, the party underestimated the support for Éric Duhaime’s Conservatives that stopped the PQ from getting to the magic number of 64 seats.

St-Pierre Plamondon promised to collaborate with other parties in a minority situation, including working with Québec Solidaire — which is also vying for the independence of Quebec — to hold another referendum.

Political Hack gets at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill. Wednesdays and Fridays.

He also had a message for the rest of the country that is apprehending the return of his party in power.

“I want to reiterate the following: the independence project we are championing is not directed against you. Quebec will always be a partner acting in good faith and open to collaboration — as we have always been,” he said.

National Post spoke to over a dozen people in the PQ’s orbit — candidates, political staff and people who know the leader well — in an attempt to understand just how the PQ pulled off the feat of winning government when polls were at around 30 per cent.

St-Pierre Plamondon’s party had been first in the polls, almost without interruption for nearly three years. And he was facing a new incumbent premier in Christine Fréchette who, many would agree, was performing well in the role.

It was easy for political adversaries to point out that, in that sense, the situation could become similar to Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party of Canada who lost against Mark Carney’s Liberals last year despite dominating poll numbers for years.

But with a fixed election date set for Oct. 5 and with five main political parties at play — including three splitting the federalist vote — the situation was entirely different.