The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has declared that his party will refrain from conducting a referendum for Quebec’s independence as long as Donald Trump is in office as the President of the United States. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of avoiding potential interference from American politics in Quebec’s crucial decision-making process. He stressed the need for a conducive environment for a well-informed and peaceful discussion on Quebec’s political future.
Acknowledging the multitude of challenges that the next government will face, St-Pierre Plamondon made it clear that calling for a referendum during Trump’s tenure would not be ideal. He firmly stated that the possibility of holding a referendum before the end of Trump’s second term in 2029 has been ruled out.
While expressing his commitment to consulting Quebecers on independence within his first term if elected, St-Pierre Plamondon specified that this would only occur after Trump’s departure from office. This announcement precedes the forthcoming Quebec provincial election campaign launch, with voting scheduled for October 5.
The decision has sparked varied reactions from political leaders in Quebec. Charles Milliard of the Quebec Liberal Party criticized the postponement, labeling it as an attempt to manipulate public sentiment. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec deemed the announcement irresponsible, especially amidst escalating American tariffs on Canada.
The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Éric Duhaime, raised concerns about the PQ’s credibility if faced with another protectionist U.S. administration in the future. Despite the controversy, the Parti Québécois currently leads in overall voting intentions according to the political aggregator 338Canada, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec.