Quebec held provincial elections yesterday as separatist forces sought to regain power in Canada’s predominantly French-speaking province, presenting a challenge to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to promote national unity amid tensions with the United States. The Parti Quebecois (PQ), which has been in opposition for 12 years, aimed to capitalize on voter concerns about economic affordability and the desire to preserve the French language in an increasingly anglophone Canada.

The PQ’s leader, Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon, a 49-year-old lawyer commonly referred to by his initials PSPP, stood to become Quebec’s next premier if his party secured a majority. He expressed mixed emotions after voting in Montreal, saying he was both “on edge and serene.” Pre-election polls indicated roughly 30 percent support for the PQ, but the province’s first-past-the-post electoral system meant that this level of backing could translate into a legislative majority, particularly given anticipated vote-splitting among multiple federalist parties.

PSPP reiterated his commitment to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty once elected but emphasized that such a vote would not take place while Donald Trump remained president. He argued that a decision on independence required conditions conducive to an informed and calm debate, which he said should not be influenced by what he described as the “theatrics of an unpredictable president.” He suggested that any referendum would be postponed until at least 2029.

Quebec’s history with separatism includes two referendums on sovereignty: the 1980 vote, in which federalists prevailed comfortably, and the 1995 referendum, which narrowly rejected independence with 50.58 percent voting to remain part of Canada. The province, home to about nine million people, awaited election results after polls closed.

While Carney enjoys popularity in Quebec and is credited with rallying opposition to U.S. trade policies and annexation threats under Trump, the election results held significance beyond the province. The political climate in Canada has been described as challenging, with Alberta—the country’s oil-producing province—also preparing to hold a non-binding vote this month on potential independence.

Although PSPP’s call for Quebec sovereignty may not currently have widespread majority endorsement, his intention to challenge the role of the British monarchy in Quebec appears to resonate more broadly among voters. The election outcome was seen as a critical indicator of the province’s political direction as Canada navigates internal divisions and external pressures.