Daniel Wolfram
The Separatist Party has promised not to bring forward a vote before Donald Trump is out of office.
The Parti Québécois, a separatist party in Canada, won provincial elections on Monday in French-speaking Quebec.
Led by 49-year-old lawyer Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, known as PSPP, the party returned to power after a decade in opposition. Still, they fell short of a majority.
At a victory rally in Montreal, PSPP hailed “the courageous struggle” of Francophones.
Uncertain times
According to France24, PSPP told supporters that this effort “will find meaning when (Francophones) obtain their own country,” adding that “we deserve it” and calling a referendum a chance “to decide what our national future will be.”
This victory comes amid uncertain times in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney has broken off his long-standing relationship with the United States of America, a close former ally.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has encouraged certain states to secede in order to put pressure on Canada during the ongoing trade war.
Waiting out Trump
Despite the win, PSPP promised to hold off on an independence vote until Donald Trump leaves office. He explained that a vote “requires conditions that allow for an informed and calm debate” rather than being “hijacked by the theatrics of an unpredictable president.” That pushes any referendum to at least 2029.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated PSPP, stating that “building a stronger Quebec is core to our mission of building a stronger Canada.” Carney remains popular in Quebec, but rising living costs and language concerns drove voters toward the separatists.
Polls show only 30 percent of Quebecers favor independence. Speaking after the election result, 19-year-old Alexia Gomez opposed separating from Canada, noting, “If Quebec becomes independent, it would make us politically, economically and militarily vulnerable.” Student Lydie Periard felt “very worried” about the party’s plans to trim non-French immigration.
