Quebec independence: War in Iran could have an ‘impact,’ admits PQ leader

Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks during a ceremony where elected candidate Marie-Karlynn Laflamme was sworn in at the legislature in Quebec City Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The war raging in Iran could have an “impact” on the sovereigntist program, admits Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

Despite this, the PQ leader is staying the course and asserting that Quebec independence is an “absolute necessity.”

“We are in an unstable geopolitical environment. For anyone who follows the news, it’s clear that this generates a legitimate form of fear,” he said during a news scrum on Tuesday at the National Assembly.

The PQ leader compared the current situation to the imposition of U.S. tariffs during the Terrebonne byelection that the PQ won in March 2025.

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

‘Comfortable lies’

The PQ leader contrasts this “legitimate fear” with the “illegitimate fear” instilled by his political opponents, who are against Quebec independence. He specifically targeted the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).

“These parties offer comfortable lies, and comfortable lies cannot be the foundation for a positive future for Quebecers,” said St-Pierre Plamondon.

Last week, in his speech after the PQ victory in Chicoutimi, he admitted to having met people who are “truly afraid” of the referendum.

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

His opponents then accused him of backtracking on his promise to hold a referendum during his first term. The PQ leader immediately refuted this accusation.

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

A seventh PQ member of parliament

The new Parti Québécois member for Chicoutimi, Marie-Karlynn Laflamme, was sworn in on Tuesday at the National Assembly’s Le Parlementaire restaurant.

Laflamme won the riding of Chicoutimi from the CAQ with 45 per cent of the vote. Éric Duhaime’s Conservatives finished second with 26 per cent. CAQ candidate Francis Tremblay had to settle for third place with only 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 The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 3, 2026.