Inquiry on the Consequences of Election Results in Quebec

For the first time in Quebec's history, four different parties were rivaling to form the next government.  Reaching the majority was at arm's lenght for one of them : the Coalition Avenir Québec. CAQ has won the bid with a self-evident majority. CAQ along with Québec Solidaire came out as the two victorious parties of this general election.  Whereas the Liberal Party and the Parti Québecois are both at low ebb. A breakdown of the results will follow.

The Coalition Avenir Québec obtained better-than-expected results, finishing far ahead of the Liberal Party.  After a decade navigating through troubled waters, it has finally reached terra firm. The map of the province, is for all practical purpose, painted in light blue from Gaspesia to Saguenay. The new party took power for its first time with impressive results : 37,4% and 74 seats. The scenario has not been forseen by any polls and such a margin came as a total surprise for all, including François Legault himself.

As for Québec Solidaire, it made its first breakthrough out of the island of Montreal. The steadily growing party reached a new peak with 10 representatives in chamber ex aqueo with the Parti Québecois.  Much of them are new in the political arena and made the jump under the banner of the left-wing and sovereigntist party. Especially popular among young people, the party is assured a beautiful future in the coming years since the power of youth in the electorate is blooming and tend to overcome babyboomers'influence.

The verdict is clear, the Quebec Liberal Party stumbled and went back sideline. The PLQ was the oldest party in contention which in this case was a heavy burden to carry. The francophone electorate judged harshly the outcome of Philippe Couillard's term of office and took the stand that the Liberal Party's reign had lasted for too long despite strong and ever-lasting approuval in the anglophone community. At 29 seats, the formation dropped to a historically low level since its foundation in 1867.  Amid a tense atmosphere, the spectre of immigration loomed large and wrecked the well-oiled liberal machine. It leads to think that the duality sovereignty/federalism acted as the spur for liberal supporters to go to polling stations and cross on the ballot. Since this time the menace of souvereignty was forceless, the turn-out of the liberal vote was lower.  

Regarding the Parti Québecois, it has been reduced to shreds. Rather a shimmering defeat than a reversible discomfiture, the collapse is so cruel that Jean-François Lisée resigned at once. The party is once again back in the oppostion's rows and will remain so considering the slow but merciless decay of its cornerstone : sovereignty. This offers very grim prospects for the party of the late René Lévesque. Still, many times have the PQ been declared dead. Never in ashes, the embers of the solid party have often been revived by breezes of sympathy from its numerous members. "In war, you can only be killed once, but in politcs, many times", would say Sir Winston Churchill.

In short, the two winners of this election are the ones which have never taken power, whereas the two parties holding the reins of the province in alternation for a half-century came out with anemic tones.