The Parti Québécois emerged victorious in the Chicoutimi byelection held on Monday, securing its fourth consecutive win in a row with less than eight months remaining before the provincial general election. Marie-Karlynn Laflamme garnered over 45% of the votes, surpassing Catherine Morissette of the Conservative Party of Quebec, who received just over 26% of the votes after all 142 polling stations had reported the results.
Expressing her victory at a PQ rally before 10 p.m., Laflamme emphasized the party’s commitment to revamping the governance approach in Quebec, stating, “Tonight, my friends, we are returning to our roots.” Laflamme, the former vice-rector of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, located in her riding over 200 kilometres northwest of Quebec City, reclaimed the riding, which had been a historic stronghold for the PQ.
Chicoutimi had been vacant since Andrée Laforest, a former cabinet minister, left provincial politics in September after an unsuccessful mayoral bid in Saguenay. The PQ, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is currently leading in the polls provincewide, with plans to hold a sovereignty referendum by 2030 if elected premier.
During the PQ rally on Monday evening, St-Pierre Plamondon outlined the party’s vision for a government driven by public interests rather than transient trends or daily polls. The CAQ, represented by Francis Tremblay in the byelection, suffered a setback despite the anticipated defeat, reflecting a decline in popularity after nearly two terms as the majority government.
Morissette of the Conservative Party expressed both disappointment at the loss and satisfaction at the party’s tripled score since the 2022 elections, signaling a strong message to the rest of Quebec. The byelection saw candidates from various parties, including Québec Solidaire and the Liberals, vying for the seat as leadership changes loom for the CAQ and the Quebec Liberals.
Following the victory in Chicoutimi, the PQ now boasts seven members in the National Assembly, an increase of four since the 2022 general election. The party had previously secured wins in byelections in Jean-Talon, Terrebonne, and Arthabaska. Pascal Paradis, the MNA for Jean-Talon, praised Laflamme’s victory as a significant return to the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Polls for the byelection were open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with early data indicating an 11.67% voter turnout for advanced ballots.