Under 20 minutes after the polls closed, CTV News projected that the Parti Québécois will form the next provincial government. PQ candidate in Iles-de-la Madeleine, Joel Arseneau, was the first to win his seat and leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon became the premier designate when he won in Camille-Laurin. Shortly after 9:30 p.m., it was announced that the PQ will form a minority government, the first minority government since Paulin Marois’s PQ administration in 2012. The Liberal party of Quebec (PLQ) will form the official opposition, CTV News said. Major party leaders For the first time in Quebec history, a Conservative Party (CPQ) candidate won a riding when former CAQ MNA turned Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in La Peltrie, Maïté Blanchette Vézina won her seat. CPQ leader Éric Duhaime also won his seat in Bellechasse. Liberal leader Charles Milliard won his seat in the Eastern Township Orford riding, and Quebec solidaire leader Ruba Ghazal won her seat in Montreal’s Mercier riding. CAQ leader Christine Fréchette gave a concession speech around 9:45 p.m., congratulating St-Pierre Plamondon on his win. “Quebecers want a change, I respect their choice,” she said. Fréchette lost her Trois-Rivières riding to PQ Jean Pellerin. Highs and lows The PQ won just three seats in the 2022 election, and did not have official party status. The CAQ meanwhile won 90 seats, and is not guaranteed to win any. More to come...
