The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, declared on Tuesday that the party will refrain from conducting a referendum while Donald Trump holds office as the U.S. President. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of not allowing American politics to overshadow discussions on Quebec’s political future, stating that a well-informed and composed debate is necessary. He highlighted the significant challenges that the next government will face and mentioned his decision to eliminate concerns about timing by ruling out a referendum before the end of Trump’s second term in 2029.
If elected, St-Pierre Plamondon expressed his intention to seek input from Quebecers on independence but only after Trump’s departure from office. The announcement coincides with the upcoming Quebec provincial election campaign, with voting scheduled for October 5.
Recent appeals by St-Pierre Plamondon to anglophone voters have garnered support, despite a poll revealing that only a small percentage of respondents would definitively vote for independence in a referendum today. Criticism of the postponement came from Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, who characterized the move as an attempt to manipulate public opinion, describing the PQ’s stance as contradictory.
Other political leaders, including Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec and Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec, expressed concerns over the uncertainty introduced by the PQ’s decision, particularly given the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. Despite the controversy, the Parti Québécois leads in overall voting intentions, according to the latest polls.