With 32% of voting intentions, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is widening its lead over the CAQ, according to a new survey from the Léger firm.
“The PQ, which was an older and outdated party and which people deserted in the last elections in 2022, is now changing. It has become the party of French speakers. Even young people vote for the PQ,” says the president of the polling firm, Jean-Marc Léger, in an interview with The Press.
The Parti Québécois obtained 32% of voting intentions, compared to 25% for the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), according to the latest Léger poll in collaboration with the Montreal Journal and VAT, carried out between February 2 and 5.
The PQ also obtains an advance of 10 percentage points compared to the CAQ if we only take into account francophones. “In December, the lead among Francophones was only 6 points,” says Mr. Léger.
On the rise since the elections
Voting intentions for the Parti Québécois have been increasing since the last provincial elections in 2022, where the party obtained 15% of the vote.
In the three months following the elections, voting intentions stood at 18%, before rising to 23% after its deputies refused to swear an oath to the king, according to the results of Léger polls. The PQ then gained 9 percentage points since the PQ won the riding of Jean-Talon last October.
“At the same time, the CAQ lost 16 points, going from 41% to 25%. It’s really a transfer of the nationalist vote which was transferred to the PQ,” believes Mr. Léger.
The PQ is gaining popularity among young people
Québec solidaire (QS) obtains 16% of voting intentions, followed closely by the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) with 15%. The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) garners 11%, according to this survey carried out among 1,032 Quebecers.
The Parti Québécois is also gaining popularity among young people, notes Mr. Léger. “In December, we had 40% for QS and 23% for the PQ. Today, we have 36% for QS and 27% for the PQ. »
For its part, the Liberal Party obtained 44% of voting intentions among non-French speakers. “Among French speakers, it’s a disaster: he gets 7% of the votes,” says Mr. Léger.