Quebec separatists win election reviving push for independence

The leaders of five main Quebec parties made their final pitches to undecided voters over the weekend, with the provincial election set for Monday, October 5, 2026. The separatist Parti Québécois (PQ), led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has consistently topped polls throughout the campaign and is expected to win a majority government despite 30% of voters supporting sovereignty or the PQ. Plamondon's promise of a referendum on independence by 2029 remains a key point of contention, with rival parties arguing it would cause political instability and harm Quebec’s economy. About a quarter of eligible voters had already cast their ballots in advance polls.