Iran war could have an ‘impact’ on Quebec sovereignty, says Parti Québécois leader

The war in Iran could have an “impact” on the sovereignty option, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has admitted. Despite this, the Parti Québécois leader remains steadfast and affirms that Quebec independence is an “absolute necessity.”

“We are in an unstable geopolitical environment. For anyone who follows the news, it certainly generates a form of legitimate fear,” he stated during a press scrum Tuesday at the National Assembly.

The Parti Québécois leader compared the current situation to the imposition of American tariffs during the Terrebonne byelection, which the PQ won in March 2025.

“It had an impact for a number of months, but… we don’t make policy based on current events or the polls of the day, but on a medium- to long-term view of our future,” said St-Pierre Plamondon.

To this “legitimate fear,” the Parti Québécois leader contrasted the “illegitimate fear” instilled by his political opponents who oppose Quebec independence. He specifically targeted the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).

“These parties offer comfortable lies. And a comfortable lie cannot be the foundation of a positive future for Quebecers,” declared St-Pierre Plamondon.

Last week, in his speech following the Parti Québécois victory in Chicoutimi, he admitted to having met people who are “genuinely afraid” of the referendum.

The Parti Québécois leader also did not rule out waiting until after Donald Trump’s term to hold a referendum.

His opponents then accused him of backtracking on his promise to hold a referendum during his first term — an accusation the Parti Québécois leader immediately refuted.

The most recent Pallas Data–Qc125–L’actualité poll, published last week, indicated that 60 per cent of respondents oppose independence. Despite this, the PQ remains in the lead in voting intentions.

Seventh PQ member elected

Marie-Karlynn Laflamme, the new Parti Québécois member for Chicoutimi, was sworn in Tuesday.

Laflamme won the Chicoutimi riding from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) with 45 per cent of the vote. Éric Duhaime’s Conservatives finished second with 26 per cent. The CAQ candidate, Francis Tremblay, had to settle for third place with 12 per cent of the vote.

After Jean-Talon, Terrebonne, and Arthabaska, this is the fourth byelection won by the PQ since the 2022 general election.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews