The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, declared on Tuesday that the party would refrain from holding a referendum while Donald Trump serves as the U.S. President. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the need for a well-informed and calm debate on Quebec’s political future, stating that the challenges facing the next government are substantial without the added complexity of a referendum during Trump’s tenure. He clarified that any referendum on independence would be considered only after Trump’s term ends in January 2029.
The decision was made just before the upcoming Quebec provincial election campaign launch, scheduled for October 5. St-Pierre Plamondon assured that if elected, he would seek input from Quebecers regarding independence, but only after Trump’s departure from office.
In response to the announcement, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard criticized the delay, suggesting it reflects a lack of confidence in the separatist cause. He accused the PQ of attempting to manipulate public opinion by vacillating on their referendum stance. Similarly, Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette condemned the timing of the announcement, labeling it as “irresponsible” given the impending American tariffs on Canada.
Despite criticisms, the Parti Québécois maintains a lead in the polls, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec in overall voting intentions, according to 338Canada’s political aggregator data.
The Conservative Party of Quebec’s leader, Éric Duhaime, questioned the PQ’s credibility in light of potential future changes in U.S. administrations, highlighting the party’s shifting referendum stance.