Parti Québécois (PQ) activists gathered on the South Shore in the Montreal region burst into joy for the first time that evening when they saw their leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, take the lead in his riding, around 22 h. As these lines were written, the leader had still not spoken, and his election had just been confirmed.
Only the election of Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon could save the PQ election night. Despite the impression of having led the best of campaigns, only a handful of elected representatives will represent the PQ in the National Assembly.
The sovereignist formation had only three elected confirmed or in advance at the time these lines were written. However, this left little doubt that the PQ will have to resign itself to sending the smallest contingent in its history to Quebec, since the seven that René Lévesque had elected in 1970.
The PQ had organized the gathering of the leader in a hotel in Boucherville, Monday evening, for lack of being able to reserve a room in Montreal in time. The few tables available were quickly taken by storm by the first to arrive, and it was standing that the others had to digest a slow disappointment.
Scary evening
The anguish was perceptible in the room, over the publication of the results, which confirmed more and more the decisive victory of the Coalition avenir Québec, and the election of a greater number of liberal and solidarity candidates.
Especially since Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was the leader who had led the best campaigns, in the unanimous opinion of the many candidates who took turns at the microphone all evening. Finally, his allegedly good performance during the leaders’ debates failed to do more than save the day.
On the spot, the enthusiasm was hardly perceptible. On a few occasions, the host of the evening, Catherine Gentilcore, interrupted the disappointing news parading on the television networks to join by videoconference candidates in other gatherings elsewhere in Quebec, and conduct short live interviews.
The crowd remained relatively unenthusiastic, their eyes riveted on the numbers. She still offered some applause each time, especially for the PQ personalities present on the spot. Some boos too, especially when the announcement of the re-election of the solidarity Vincent Marissal or that of the caquiste Shirley Dorismond.
Several candidates from the Montreal region crossed the bridge-tunnel for the evening of the leader, like Vincent Delorme, who is running in Gouin, the riding held by the co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. In “Saint-Jean mode” with a Quebec flag in his hair, he hoped before the unveiling of the results that the voters would confirm that his party had had a good campaign.
“Even in counties like mine, where there is little chance of being elected,” said the 29-year-old man, who said he wanted a rapprochement between the PQ and QS.
Fate of a Leaflet Theft
Clearly, the withdrawal of one of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s opponents for stealing a pamphlet bearing his image was not enough to ensure the 45-year-old leader too comfortable a lead in Camille-Laurin, riding of east of Montreal formerly called Bourget.
Last Monday, the local candidate for Québec solidaire, Marie-Ève Rancourt, was caught in the mailbox by a citizen’s surveillance camera. She withdrew entirely from the electoral race, after discussion with her leader.
Robert Bélanger, 66, who has always voted for the Parti Québécois since he had the right to vote, gave his time to make calls in the riding of Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon. Monday evening, he said above all to fear that the name of the united candidate had not been removed from all the ballots.
“It would disappoint me [une défaite dans Camille-Laurin], because he did a good job. His debates were perfect,” he told the To have to shortly before the publication of the results, which arrived very late.
As the polls suggested, the fight was very tight between Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon and the outgoing candidate of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), Richard Campeau.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) official website urged voters to “go home,” a message primarily aimed at those who were tempted to vote for François Legault in 2018. In the low moments of the evening, several activists present on the spot openly questioned the sovereignist strategy to be adopted for the future. When there was good news, they sang the slogan “Le Québec, un pays!” or even the song People of the country.