The Parti Québécois has decided not to proceed with a referendum as long as the current U.S. President, Donald Trump, remains in office, according to a statement made by party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Tuesday. St-Pierre Plamondon expressed his desire to prevent the issue from being influenced by American political dynamics.
St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of a well-informed and calm debate when considering the political future of Quebec, stating that the upcoming government will already face numerous challenges without the need for a referendum. He clarified that there will be no referendum held before the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029.
If elected, St-Pierre Plamondon plans to engage with Quebec residents on the topic of independence during his initial term, but only after Trump’s tenure concludes. This announcement comes shortly before the commencement of the Quebec provincial election campaign, with voting scheduled for October 5.
While the PQ leader has pledged to conduct a referendum in his first mandate, recent efforts have been made to appeal to anglophone voters. A recent survey by Angus Reid indicated that only a small percentage of respondents would definitively support independence if a referendum were held today.
The decision to postpone the referendum has drawn criticism from Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, who views it as an attempt to manipulate public opinion. He characterized the PQ’s stance as contradictory, questioning the feasibility of relying on Trump’s departure in 2029 as a solution.
Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Québec leader, Christine Fréchette, criticized the timing of the announcement, labeling it as irresponsible given the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. Eric Duhaime, head of the Conservative Party of Quebec, expressed skepticism about the PQ’s shifting position on independence.
Despite the controversy, the Parti Québécois currently leads in the polls, surpassing both the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec in overall voting intentions. This positions them as a prominent contender in the upcoming election.