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Quebec solidaire members stunned by Vincent Marissal's abrupt departure

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • November 24, 2025

Quebec Solidaire house leader Alexandre Leduc responds to reporters questions, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press

QUEBEC -- The left-wing Quebec solidaire party is reeling from the abrupt departure over the weekend of a legislature member who had been flirting with the Parti Quebecois.

Vincent Marissal announced on Saturday he was leaving Quebec solidaire, shortly after the party voted to suspend him from caucus for having talks with PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

Quebec solidaire legislature member Alexandre Leduc said today he's stunned by Marissal's departure and doesn't recognize who his former colleague has become.

In lengthy messages on social media, fellow party members Guillaume Cliche-Rivard and Etienne Grandmont said they felt betrayed.

Marissal has said he was leaving Quebec solidaire in part because of the staunchly pro-union position it adopted during the recent Montreal public transit strike.

But Leduc accused his former colleague of flip-flopping, pointing out that Marissal in June voted against provincial legislation limiting the right to strike.

Marissal is now an Independent, leaving Quebec solidaire with 11 seats in the legislature.

This report by was first published Nov. 24, 2025.