Québec solidaire is ‘well established,’ says co-spokesperson Zanetti

Quebec Solidaire co-leader Ruba Ghazal, centre, and co-leader Sol Zanetti, right, stand with their caucus during a news conference marking the end of the fall session at the legislature in Quebec City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Québec solidaire (QS) is “well established,” says its co-spokesperson, Sol Zanetti, despite recent months marked by announcements of departures, exclusion from the caucus, and unfavourable polls.

“We have gone through a transition. That transition is now over. And right now, we are a party that is well in the saddle, focused on Quebecers’ priorities at the end of the month,” Zanetti told reporters on Thursday morning.

QS MNAs are meeting in Montreal to prepare for the last parliamentary session in the National Assembly before the next general election.

QS is in last place in polls, tied with the Coalition Avenir Québec, with 11 per cent support, according to the latest Pallas Data poll released in early January.

In recent months, four party members have announced that they will not be running in the October elections: Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Christine Labrie, Manon Massé, and Haroun Bouazzi.

In addition to these announcements, MNA Vincent Marissal slammed the door on the party after being expelled from the caucus for holding discussions with PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon with a view to running for the Parti Québécois.

Despite the situation, co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal nevertheless said she remains optimistic as the election campaign approaches.

“We are looking forward to this election because we have been the only ones for months and months to talk about the issues that affect Quebecers in their daily lives, whether it’s the cost of living crisis, the housing crisis, groceries, or mortgages,” said Ghazal.

“We are really focused on issues that affect Quebecers, unlike the other parties, which are either caught up in leadership races or mired in a reputation for corruption,” she added.

QS currently has 11 members in the National Assembly.

- Frédéric Lacroix-Couture

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Jan. 29, 2026.