Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, said a Quebec independence referendum will not be held while Donald Trump is U.S. president [1].
The decision shifts the timeline for one of Canada's most enduring political tensions, linking the sovereignty of a Canadian province to the leadership of the United States.
Speaking during an interview on Radio-Canada’s Le Téléjournal 18 h this week, Plamondon said that the current U.S. administration would hinder a "serene and enlightened" debate regarding the future of Quebec [1, 2]. He said that the political climate under Trump makes a referendum a low priority for the party at this time [1].
Because of this stance, the earliest possible date for a referendum has been pushed to after January 2029 [2], coinciding with the end of the current U.S. presidential term.
"As long as Trump is there, it is not the priority," Plamondon said [1].
Plamondon later clarified his position in a separate statement, saying, "I will not hold a referendum before the departure of Donald Trump" [3].
The announcement follows a period of speculation regarding the Parti Québécois' strategy. Some analysts had previously expressed doubt that the party leader would renounce a referendum during his first mandate if elected [3]. However, the latest declarations establish a concrete tie between the timing of the vote and the U.S. executive branch.
The Parti Québécois has long advocated for Quebec's separation from Canada to establish a sovereign state. By delaying the process, Plamondon suggests that external geopolitical stability is a prerequisite for the internal democratic process in Quebec [1, 2].
“"As long as Trump is there, it is not the priority."”
This strategic delay suggests that the Parti Québécois views the volatility of the current U.S. administration as a risk to the legitimacy or success of a sovereignty movement. By anchoring the referendum to a post-January 2029 timeline, Plamondon is effectively pausing the independence momentum to avoid a geopolitical clash or economic instability that could arise from a U.S. administration known for unpredictable trade and diplomatic policies.
