QUEBEC CITY, Quebec – Voters in Quebec have opted to put the Parti Quebecois in power, and in the process are absolutely decimating the governing Coalition avenir Quebec led by Premier Christine Frechette.
Networks are projecting that leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Parti Quebecois have won the Quebec election, and are now projected to form a minority government.
As of 8 p.m. Saskatchewan time, the PQ was ahead or had won 59 seats, compared to 40 for the Liberals, 19 for the Parti Conservateur du Quebec, 9 for the Quebec Solidaire, and zero for the CAQ.
The popular vote currently has the PQ at 28 per cent, the Liberals at 24 per cent, the Conservatives at 21 per cent, Quebec Solidaire at 11 per cent, and CAQ at under 14 per cent.
The result brings a dramatic and decisive end to the eight years of CAQ rule in Quebec, who until earlier this year had been led by former Premier Francois Legault.
For the CAQ it is a devastating result, currently losing in all 86 of the seats they held. Results so far show the leader Frechette as currently trailing in Trois-Rivieres by a few hundred votes.
Frechette has already spoken to CAQ supporters in which she has congratulated the Parti Quebecois on their victory.
On social media Saskatchewan's Premier Scott Moe congratulated the new Premier of Quebec.
"Congratulations to Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who tonight was elected Quebec’s 34th Premier. I look forward to working with you," he posted.
The result will puts a separatist-sovereigntist government in power in Quebec for the first time in 12 years. The last time the PQ held power was between 2012 and 2014 when Pauline Marois led a minority government.
Adding together both the PQ totals as well as those from Quebec Solidaire the result is trending to a majority of pro-sovereignty MNAs in the National Assembly.
