The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) wants to have access to the province’s legislature after winning 13% of the vote on Monday without securing a single seat.
“Never in the political history of Quebec has a party obtained 13% of the votes without being represented in the Blue Room,” said PCQ leader Eric Duhaime on social media.
The PCQ is asking for the ability to hold press conferences at the legislature, in addition to having an office and a research or communications budget.
Duhaime says ensuring his party can access the National Assembly is their first post-election fight, adding, “I am very happy to see this morning that people who are not Conservatives are contacting me to show their support.”
“All Quebec democrats are welcome to ensure that 530,000 votes are not wasted.”
The PCQ is also demanding a recount in the riding of Beauce-Nord, where it came the closest to a breakthrough.
PCQ candidate Olivier Dumais lost to incumbent CAQ MNA Luc Provencal by just 202 votes, making it the 2022 election’s tightest result.
In addition to a demand for access and a judicial recount, Duhaime sees another way his party could enter the province’s legislature..
The PCQ previously obtained a presence in the Blue Room after former Iberville CAQ member Claire Samson joined the party.
Speaking with the Journal de Quebec, Duhaime said he hopes to find a new disenfranchised CAQ member to cross the floor and join his party.
“There may be (CAQ) MNAs who expect to get a phone call, who already see themselves as ministers and who will be very disappointed in a few days,” said Duhaime.
“We must always look for dissatisfied people. It’s not the satisfied ones who leave.”
The Conservative Party of Quebec placed fifth in the popular vote count, earning 530, 786 votes but no seats. Meanwhile, the Quebec Liberal Party placed fourth with 591, 077 votes but won 21 seats – becoming the official opposition.
Source: Elections Quebec
Both Quebec Solidaire (QS) and the Parti Quebecois (PQ) received over 600,000 votes, but QS won 11 seats, and the PQ won 3.
The results have led to calls for electoral reform, something Legault had promised in 2018 – but later abandoned.
Following his super majority win, Legault indicated he will not reform the province’s voting system.
“I don’t think the voting system we have is bad. During the election campaign, I promised not to open this debate and I will respect all my commitments,” said Legault Tuesday.
When asked by True North about electoral reform, Duhaime’s press secretary Cedric Lapointe said “there is a problem with the current voting system, it is unthinkable that 13% of Quebecers do not have a voice in the National Assembly.”
True North also reached out to the National Assembly with questions regarding the PCQ’s requests but did not receive answers in time for publication.
In response to questions about the PCQ’s requests, National Assembly spokesperson Beatrice Zacharie told True North “political parties that do not have elected members cannot obtain the benefits of parliamentary groups or hold press conferences in the National Assembly.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated following it’s publication to include comment from the National Assembly.
