Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press “It seems unavoidable to me that this will be the most important theme of 2026,” said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Wednesday.
The theme of Quebec sovereignty will be the most important in the next electoral campaign, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon declared on Wednesday, the same day when a new poll also places his party in head of voting intentions.
Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon was encouraged by a slight increase of 1% in one month in support for sovereignty, which now stands at 36%, according to a Léger-Québecor opinion survey. “It has not stagnated, we have to be factual,” he said at a press briefing. Today's poll shows an increase in the Yes vote and a decline of three points in the No vote. In other words, the gap just changed by four points. »
According to the poll, support for No has increased from 56% to 53% since February, which confirms the PQ leader in his perception that the question of sovereignty will be central during the next electoral campaign Quebecois. “It seems inevitable to me that this will be the most important theme of 2026,” he said.
Prime Minister François Legault immediately noted that the PQ leader wanted to make room for the referendum theme. “This is what Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon wants, for the next election to be: do we want a referendum on sovereignty or not ? I don’t think the Quebecers are there. They want changes in health, in education, yes. Protect French, the economy, the portfolio,” he said as he headed towards his office after question period.
The interim Liberal leader, Marc Tanguay, affirmed that Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon was on the wrong track in believing that sovereignty concerned Quebec voters. “It is clear that Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will promote his sovereignty, his Quebec piastre, then his embassies in the national capital,” he said at a press briefing. At that time, we will prioritize the economy and public services. »
In the poll published Wednesday, conducted from March 15 to 18, the Parti Québécois (PQ) obtained 34% of voting intentions, an increase of 2% in one month. The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) received 22% support, a drop of 2%. Québec solidaire is at 18%, after an increase of 2%, while the Liberals are at 14%, down 1%. The Conservative Party of Quebec has a result of 10%, compared to 11% in the previous poll, in February.
The PQ is also in the sector of a parliamentary majority with its 42% support in the French-speaking vote, indicates the opinion survey.
Léger estimates that the maximum margin of error for his sample of 1033 respondents is ±3.05%, 19 times out of 20.
Electoral horizon
Faced with these poor results which have been accumulating since last fall, Mr. Legault said he was “not at all” thinking about his political future. “What is important for me and for our team is to continue to make the necessary changes for Quebecers. That’s what I work on, not popularity,” he said as he walked towards the Blue Room.
Earlier, his liberal opponent Marc Tanguay told journalists that his party was the only one capable of opposing a real federalist vision to the PQ proposal. “The Quebec Liberal Party will always be present to defend Quebec's position within the Canadian federation — which is not François Legault's third way, which is a failure. »
Mr. Tanguay refrained from commenting on the position obtained by his party, whose next permanent leader must be chosen in 2025, in the most recent poll. “We are confident that the Quebec Liberal Party will ultimately be the alternative. »
The co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, explained that the next decisive step for his party would be its next national council, during which its orientations will be established in anticipation of the 2026 elections “The polls, three years before the election, are not the compass that I use to make choices when I get up in the morning,” he said at a press briefing.< /p>