Voters in Quebec are going to the polls today in provincial elections, with current polls indicating a likely victory for the Parti Québécois (PQ). If these projections are accurate, the PQ would form the government of the province, which has a population of approximately nine million. This would be the first time in over a decade that the separatist movement has gained power in the French-speaking region.
A key promise from the PQ is to hold a referendum on independence from Canada within the next two years. The party's leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has reportedly seen electoral success not primarily due to his separatist stance, as the majority of voters do not support an independent Quebec. Instead, analysts suggest his appeal stems from his right-wing approach to identity issues.
St-Pierre Plamondon has also discussed defunding the office of Quebec’s lieutenant-governor and plans to introduce legislation to sever the province's ties with the monarchy. He has also criticised Prime Minister Mark Carney's suggestion of increasing national immigration rates, calling it an "abuse of power" that could negatively affect French-language services in Quebec.