MONTREAL — The Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election Monday, returning to power for the first time in over a decade. Party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, a 49-year-old lawyer, will become premier of the province, which has roughly nine million residents. The PQ has pledged to hold a referendum on independence from Canada by 2028 during its first mandate.
Only 30 percent of Quebecers support independence, according to recent polls. Analysts said Plamondon's victory stemmed more from his positions on immigration and social issues than from public demand for separation.
Plamondon campaigned on reducing immigration, blaming newcomers for overcrowded schools, rising crime and soaring housing prices. He also promised to ban the display of "conspicuous" religious symbols by teachers and students.
The PQ also benefited from a four-way contest for the nationalist vote in the election.
Plamondon had previously said he would not hold a referendum while President Donald Trump was in power. That position initially pushed the independence issue to the political margins, allowing him to focus on immigration criticism.
A PQ government is expected to reignite disputes over language and identity between Quebec and the federal government, challenging Canadian unity under Prime Minister Mark Carney. Quebecers largely oppose holding a referendum soon, particularly as Canada navigates trade tensions with the United States.
