Quebec separatists projected to form minority government

With most votes counted on Tuesday morning, Canadian media projections cited by the BBC put the Parti Québécois below the 64 seats needed for a majority in Quebec’s provincial assembly. Its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is expected to become premier, returning the separatist party to power for the first time since 2014. [1]

The party has pledged to hold another referendum on Quebec’s separation from Canada. But a minority government would need support from rival parties that oppose independence, leaving its path to a vote unclear. In his election-night speech, St-Pierre Plamondon reaffirmed his independence ambitions while promising to govern for all Quebecers. Quebec rejected independence in referendums in 1980 and 1995. [1]

The previously governing Coalition Avenir Québec was projected to win no seats. The BBC reported that the Quebec Liberals took the second-most seats and the Quebec Conservatives gained seats. Final seat totals were not reported. [1]