The province of Quebec held decisive legislative elections on October 5, 2026, with preliminary results showing a clear lead for the Parti Québécois (PQ), which managed to cross the majority threshold in the National Assembly, in an election that brought significant political changes to the map of parties within the province, alongside the notable emergence of several MPs of Arab origin.
According to the available results after the votes were counted, the Parti Québécois (PQ) came first with 65 seats, followed by the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) with 32 seats, while the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) made a significant breakthrough by winning 17 seats. Québec solidaire won 10 seats, while the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) came last with only two seats.
These figures represented the latest update published at around 9 p.m., at a time when some electoral districts were still being counted. Therefore, the results remain subject to verification and official confirmation.
Parti Québécois Wins Majority
The National Assembly of Quebec has 127 seats, and any party needs 64 seats to obtain an absolute majority. With the Parti Québécois reaching 65 seats according to the preliminary results, it is heading toward forming a majority government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, giving it, in principle, the ability to form the government and pass major legislation without requiring the support of another party.
This victory represents a strong return for the Parti Québécois to a position of political leadership in the province and also brings the debate over Quebec’s future and its relationship with the Canadian federal government back to the forefront.
Major Setback for the Coalition Avenir Québec
Among the biggest losers in these elections was the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which suffered a major political and electoral defeat. After holding 79 seats when the election was called, the party fell to only two seats in the preliminary results, in one of the most significant transformations in Quebec’s political landscape.
The Liberal Party, meanwhile, managed to secure the position of the main opposition with 32 seats according to the preliminary results, while the Conservative Party of Quebec made notable gains with 17 seats.
Among the most significant results for the Conservatives was the victory of party leader Éric Duhaime in the Bellechasse riding, a result that reflects the party’s expanding electoral presence compared with the previous election.
Québec solidaire Maintains Its Presence
Québec solidaire won around 10 seats in the preliminary results, including the re-election of the party’s co-spokesperson, Ruba Ghazal, in the Mercier riding.
This victory comes within the context of Ghazal’s continued presence on Quebec’s political scene, in addition to her being one of the most prominent political figures of Arab origin in the National Assembly.
Four MPs of Arab Origin Win Their Seats
One of the notable aspects of the October 5, 2026 election results is the victory of four MPs of Arab origin in securing seats in the National Assembly of Quebec, according to the results available so far.
Ruba Ghazal – Mercier
Ruba Ghazal was re-elected to represent the Mercier riding for Québec solidaire. Ghazal is of Lebanese and Palestinian origin, and her victory represents a continuation of her political presence in the National Assembly, where she represents one of the prominent voices within Québec solidaire.
Monsef Derraji – Nelligan
Monsef Derraji, who is of Moroccan origin, was re-elected in the Nelligan riding for the Liberal Party. The renewed confidence placed in him confirms his continued presence in Quebec’s political life and also reflects the growing participation of qualified individuals from Arab and Maghrebi communities in the province’s elected institutions.
Nada Boumeftah – Maurice-Richard
Nada Boumeftah, who is of Moroccan origin, won the Maurice-Richard riding for the Liberal Party. Her arrival in the National Assembly represents a new addition to the political representation of members of Arab and Maghrebi communities in Quebec.
Tarek Henoud – Arthabaska-L’Érable
In the Arthabaska-L’Érable riding, Tarek Henoud, who is of Lebanese origin, won his seat for the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ). His victory is particularly significant given the progress achieved by the Conservative Party in these elections and its winning 17 seats according to the preliminary results.
Arab Presence Across Political Affiliations
The victories of the four MPs reveal a diverse Arab and Maghrebi presence within Quebec’s political life that is not limited to a single political party. The MPs’ political affiliations are divided among Québec solidaire, the Liberal Party, and the Conservative Party. This diversity reflects the participation of members of Arab and Maghrebi communities in public life in Quebec and the transition of their presence from the social and cultural sphere into elected political institutions.
The differences in the ridings and political affiliations of the four MPs also reflect diverse political orientations within these communities, rather than considering them a single electoral bloc with a unified political position.
The Issue of Quebec Independence Returns to the Forefront
The victory of the Parti Québécois also carries implications that go beyond the formation of the new government, as it brings the issue of Quebec’s independence from Canada back to the forefront of political debate.
The Parti Québécois has historically been associated with the sovereignty and independence project and has pledged to hold a referendum on Quebec independence in the future. However, the party’s majority in these elections does not mean that Quebec has become independent from Canada, as any move toward independence would require a political and constitutional process as well as a separate referendum and cannot be achieved simply through the result of a legislative election.
Consequently, the coming period could witness extensive debate over the future of the relationship between Quebec and the federal government, particularly with the Parti Québécois holding a majority that enables it to implement a significant part of its political program within the areas of jurisdiction held by the provincial government.
Elections Quebec explains that the results become official after the process of collecting, verifying, and certifying the votes has been completed in accordance with the applicable electoral procedures. This means that the final figures could undergo some changes before the official results are announced.
Elections That Redraw Quebec’s Political Landscape
The results of the October 5, 2026 election point to a major political shift in Quebec, with the Parti Québécois moving into a majority position, a major collapse in the number of seats held by the Coalition Avenir Québec, gains by the Conservatives, the Liberals retaining their position as the main opposition, and Québec solidaire maintaining its presence.
At the same time, the election of four MPs of Arab and Maghrebi origin represents an important milestone in the political participation of Arab communities in Quebec, particularly as these MPs represent different constituencies and political parties.
Attention in the coming period will remain focused on how the Parti Québécois uses its parliamentary majority and whether the issue of sovereignty and independence will occupy a prominent position on the new government’s agenda, alongside economic and social issues, immigration, and relations with the federal government.
As Quebec prepares for a new political phase under a majority government, the results of these elections not only shape the composition of the National Assembly but could also open a new chapter in the debate over the future of the province within Canada, at a time when Arab representation has become a more visible part of Quebec’s political landscape.
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