After two straight Coalition Avenir Quebec majority governments, the Parti Quebecois appeared to be in the driver's seat as the 40-day election campaign closed.

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to launch a referendum to separate Quebec from Canada if his party forms a government, but not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House in 2029.

The PQ leader said earlier today that he was proud of his party's campaign, noting it was the only one to visit all of the province's regions.

Securing a majority government requires winning 64 out of the 127 seats in Quebec's legislature.

When the election was called, the CAQ held 79 seats, the Liberals had 18, Quebec solidaire 11 and the PQ held seven seats. There were nine Independents and one Conservative.

This report by was first published Oct. 5, 2026.