The Parti Québécois appears set to form government in Quebec, but a minority mandate would run into difficulties right away, according to the Montreal Gazette. The paper reported Monday that a PQ minority would face an uphill battle from its first day.
The broader reaction to the PQ's rise was mixed. The National Post reported that the Bloc Québécois welcomed the result as "fantastic news" and renewed its hopes for separation, while the federal Liberals stayed silent.
Alliance talk also shaped the final stretch of the campaign. According to CBC, parties were pressed on possible alliances after Fréchette raised the idea of a PQ-Conservative alignment. CTV News reported that the PQ denied any "bromance" with the Conservatives was beginning. CityNews Montreal reported that leaders spent the closing days discussing housing and the economy, while the PQ and PCQ faced questions about an alliance.
The results leave the PQ poised to take power, but the shape of that power remains unsettled. With a minority, the party would need support from other members of the legislature to pass legislation, and the Gazette's assessment suggests that cooperation may not come easily.
What to watch next: whether the PQ can secure enough support in the National Assembly to govern, and whether the alliance questions raised during the campaign carry into the sitting legislature.
