Québec solidaire holds weekend convention with uphill battle to broaden appeal

Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, left, lifts Sol Zanetti’s arm as a symbol of victory after Zanetti was voted as new co-spokesperson in Quebec City, on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Karoline Boucher)

The annual convention of Quebec’s leftist sovereigntist party starts Friday night in Montreal with five months to go before the Oct. 5 election.

Québec solidaire is positioning itself as the only true option for Quebec’s progressives.

With 11 of 125 seats, Quebec solidaire is polling behind the Parti Québécois, Liberals, Coalition Avenir Québec and Conservatives.

Poll aggregator Qc125.com says the party would drop to seven seats if an election were held today.

Ruba Ghazal, Quebec solidaire spokesperson — the party doesn’t have traditional leaders — says the housing crisis, the environment, affordability, health and gender equality are on the agenda for the convention that ends Sunday.

Analysts say it will be an uphill battle for the sovereigntist party to broaden its appeal outside urban centres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2026.

Erika Morris, The Canadian Press