With the Party Québécois set to form a minority government – five seats shy of a majority – questions are arising about what’s in store for the parties in the Opposition.
PQ Leader and Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has said he would work with the other parties.
READ: Quebec 2026 election results for all ridings across the province
“We will work to ensure the budget reflects elements of the other parties’ election platforms, so that we can collaborate on a workable budgetary framework,” he said in his victory speech.
“I believe there are good ideas within every political party in Quebec.”
The Liberal Party of Quebec, led by Charles Milliard, will be the official Opposition for after capturing 40 seats.
Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party of Quebec won 19 seats, while Québec solidaire and co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal saw nine candidates elected to the legislature.
If the PQ wants to govern without Liberal support, it will need to lean on the Conservatives and QS if it wants to pass its program.
Duhaime has already said the Conservatives would act as a “watchdog” in the National Assembly. “I think Quebecers conferred upon us an important mandate yesterday,” he said Tuesday.
Ghazal said those who elected Québec solidaire MNAs will be able to count on the party “to be their voice in the Parliament.”
According to political analyst Daniel Tran, support from either party won’t necessarily be consistent.
“The balance of power will be really on a case-by-case, depending on the dossiers,” Tran told CityNews.
The Liberals more than doubled their seat total this election, going from 18 to 40. Milliard showed the party’s cooperative spirit Tuesday, but made it clear he will always oppose a referendum.
“A minority government must listen and seek support,” Milliard said. “It must take into account the Quebecers who made a different choice.”
Tran says the task for all three Opposition parties now is to build on their gains while positioning themselves for key political challenges ahead.
“Not only to consolidate the team, but at the same time prepare for the possible next election and the possible next battle against referendum,” he said.
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