The Parti Québécois (PQ) has achieved a significant victory in the recent byelection in Arthabaska, marking its third consecutive win. This comes as a stark contrast to the party's performance three years ago, when it held only three seats in the National Assembly and garnered just 14.6 percent of the vote.

On Monday evening, PQ candidate Alex Boissonneault, a journalist, won the byelection with over 46 percent of the vote. His closest competitor, Éric Duhaime, leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, received 35 percent. This victory is particularly notable as it is the first time since 1998 that a PQ candidate has been elected in the Arthabaska-L’Érable riding, which is located between Montreal and Quebec City and is known for its semi-rural conservative demographic.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the PQ, expressed his excitement, stating, "This reminds me of the Parti Québécois of the 1970s." The PQ has been leading in polls for several months, positioning itself as a viable alternative to the current government led by François Legault, whose popularity has waned.

The byelection campaign saw Duhaime and other candidates attempting to leverage voter concerns about a potential third referendum on Quebec's independence, a promise made by Plamondon if the PQ returns to power. However, this strategy did not resonate with voters. Instead, there appears to be a growing enthusiasm for independence, particularly among younger Quebecers. Recent surveys indicate that support for separation among voters aged 18 to 34 has surged to nearly 50 percent, a significant increase of 15 percentage points from earlier polls.

The results of the byelection signal troubling times for other major provincial parties. The ruling Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which previously won the riding with 52 percent of the vote, saw its support plummet to just 7 percent. This dramatic decline prompted Premier Legault to acknowledge that Quebecers are dissatisfied with his government. Despite this, Legault plans to remain at the helm of the CAQ and will announce a cabinet reshuffle next month in an effort to regain public support.

The Quebec Liberals, currently the Official Opposition, also faced disappointing results, receiving only 9.3 percent of the vote, which placed them in third behind the CAQ. This outcome is particularly disheartening given the party's recent leadership change to former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez.

As the political landscape shifts, the PQ's resurgence raises questions about the future of Quebec's independence movement and the strategies of other parties as they prepare for the next general elections scheduled for October 2026.