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Quebec Elects Parti Québécois in Minorities
Confirmed
In Short: Voters in Quebec elected a minority Parti Québécois government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
Voters in Quebec elected a minority Parti Québécois (PQ) government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, according to results announced Tuesday. The PQ, which had been nearly wiped off the electoral map four years ago, came roaring back to nearly secure a majority.
St-Pierre Plamondon promised to collaborate with other parties, including Québec Solidaire, to hold another referendum on Quebec's independence.
"We knew the CAQ would play that card. That was all they had left," said Louis Lyonnais, one of St-Pierre Plamondon’s closest aides, referring to the Coalition Avenir Québec's strategy of using the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. to scare voters.
"We took away their strongest argument," Lyonnais added, noting that the PQ had been first in the polls for nearly three years.
The PQ was especially concerned about the vote of people aged 55 and up, who were leaning towards the CAQ due to the trade war with the U.S. However, the PQ managed to counteract this trend.
"Let’s be honest: Mark Carney had chosen his winner," said Lucas Medernach, director of communications for the PQ, referring to the polls that had previously favored the CAQ.
Meanwhile, in Cyprus, voters are heading to the polls Sunday for what is shaping up to be one of the country's most significant parliamentary elections in decades.
According to opinion polls, the race for first place will once again be decided between the conservative Democratic Rally (DISY) and the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL).
Both DISY and AKEL are expected to get approximately 20% of the vote each, but the election is expected to reshape the country's political landscape, weaken traditional parties, and accelerate the rise of new anti-establishment movements.
In Russia, the State Duma elections began on Sept. 18 for the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Democracy watchdogs regard the Russian elections as neither free nor fair, and independent Russian media have already reported intimidation of election observers and coercion of voters.
What this adds
The trade war between Canada and the U.S. played a significant role in the Quebec election, but the PQ managed to counteract the CAQ's strategy.
The Cyprus election is expected to weaken traditional parties and accelerate the rise of new anti-establishment movements.
What's confirmed
- Voters in Quebec elected a minority Parti Québécois (PQ) government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, according to results announced Tuesday. The PQ, which had been nearly wiped off the electoral map four years ago, came roaring back to nearly secure a majority.
- St-Pierre Plamondon promised to collaborate with other parties, including Québec Solidaire, to hold another referendum on Quebec's independence.
- "We knew the CAQ would play that card. That was all they had left," said Louis Lyonnais, one of St-Pierre Plamondon’s closest aides, referring to the Coalition Avenir Québec's strategy of using the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. to scare voters.
- "We took away their strongest argument," Lyonnais added, noting that the PQ had been first in the polls for nearly three years.
- The PQ was especially concerned about the vote of people aged 55 and up, who were leaning towards the CAQ due to the trade war with the U.S. However, the PQ managed to counteract this trend.
- "Let’s be honest: Mark Carney had chosen his winner," said Lucas Medernach, director of communications for the PQ, referring to the polls that had previously favored the CAQ.
- Meanwhile, in Cyprus, voters are heading to the polls Sunday for what is shaping up to be one of the country's most significant parliamentary elections in decades.
- According to opinion polls, the race for first place will once again be decided between the conservative Democratic Rally (DISY) and the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL).
- Both DISY and AKEL are expected to get approximately 20% of the vote each, but the election is expected to reshape the country's political landscape, weaken traditional parties, and accelerate the rise of new anti-establishment movements.
- In Russia, the State Duma elections began on Sept. 18 for the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Democracy watchdogs regard the Russian elections as neither free nor fair, and independent Russian media have already reported intimidation of election observers and coercion of voters.
What's still developing
- “I want to reiterate the following: the independence project we are championing is not directed against you. Quebec will always be a partner acting in good faith and open to collaboration — as we have always been,” he said.
- Her party was creeping up in the polls, in second place, and many were wondering if the “Trump effect” could push her just over the edge.
- Citing recent opinion polls, journalist and political analyst Sotiris Paroutis said Cyprus is heading toward "a profound transformation of its political scene," characterized by the weakening of the country's two dominant parties and by the collapse of traditional centrist forces.
- According to opinion polls, the far-right National Popular Front (ELAM) is expected to emerge as the country's third-largest political force, securing around 10% of the vote.
- According to opinion polls, these centrist parties are losing support to new political formations and are unlikely to enter parliament.
- Although the parliament holds limited powers within the presidential system of the Republic of Cyprus, the outcome of the election is expected to transform the country's political landscape.
- For DISY, the election will be a major test of political resilience following the loss of the presidency and the internal tensions that followed the election of independent candidate and former DISY member Nikos Christodoulides as president in 2023.
- But even if the two major parties remain dominant, opinion polls indicate they are unlikely to repeat the high vote shares they obtained in recent decades.
- Other parties permitted to run, such as the Communist Party or the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), are part of the so-called "systemic opposition," a group of Kremlin-aligned parties meant to create the appearance of democratic competition.
- Speaking before his visit to Ukraine, the Slovak leader said that the Russia-Ukraine war is "out of control," and that the risk of a Europe-wide conflict has never been as serious as it is now.