The separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) has won Monday's provincial election in Quebec, Canada's French-speaking province, with party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon vowing to pursue independence in a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Mark Carney's message of national unity.
In his victory speech, Plamondon said Quebec deserves to be a country and its people deserve a chance "to decide what our national future will be." The PQ won 60 seats in the 127-member assembly, short of a majority, while the Liberals and Conservatives have said they will oppose any move to hold a referendum.
Analysts say the result reflects frustration with outgoing Premier Christine Frechette's government over the cost of living rather than a surge in separatist sentiment, with a recent survey putting support for leaving Canada at about 30 per cent. Plamondon has ruled out a referendum until US President Donald Trump's term ends in 2029, saying he does not want the debate hijacked by American politics.
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