PQ Steals Arthabaska, Blocks Duhaime’s Parliament Entry
The political winds in Quebec shifted dramatically this week as the Parti Québécois scored a major upset in the Arthabaska by-election, seizing a seat long held by the CAQ and delivering a blow to Conservative leader Éric Duhaime’s hopes of finally stepping foot into the National Assembly.
Alex Boissonneault, a former radio host turned PQ candidate, took the riding with 46.3% of the vote, defeating Duhaime, who managed 35.1% despite a noticeable bump from his 2022 results. The victory turned a normally quiet August evening into a roaring celebration at a packed microbrewery in Victoriaville, where more than 200 PQ supporters chanted “Le Québec, un pays!” as news of the win broke.
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For Duhaime, the loss was stinging. This was supposed to be his breakthrough moment, his chance to carry the Conservative Party of Quebec into the legislature after years of knocking on the door. He called the result a loss not just for his party but for Quebec democracy, pointing out that over 530,000 Quebecers had voted Conservative in 2022 without gaining a single seat. Still, he urged supporters to see the bigger picture — this was just a battle, and the “war” would be fought in the general election of 2026. His tally in Arthabaska was up about 10 points from last time, but the door to the Salon bleu remains closed.
For the CAQ, the evening was nothing short of a collapse. Their candidate, Keven Brasseur, limped in with just 7.2%, a far cry from the nearly 52% the party captured here in 2022. Premier François Legault didn’t sugarcoat it — he accepted full responsibility and admitted the defeat reflected widespread disappointment in his government. Recent controversies, from the Northvolt investment loss to the SAAQclic fiasco, were cited among reasons for voter frustration. Legault has promised a cabinet shuffle and a hard look in the mirror before next year’s election.
The PQ’s win in Arthabaska marks their third straight by-election victory, following similar takeovers in Jean-Talon and Terrebonne, both formerly CAQ strongholds. It’s also a return to old turf — the party held Arthabaska from 1989 to 2003 — and it strengthens Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s position as a leading contender for premier. While he saved talk of sovereignty for the end of his speech, the PQ leader was clear: this was about representation and trust, and voters had sent a signal for deep change.
With voter turnout hitting 61.7% — far higher than most by-elections — Arthabaska has become more than a local race. It’s now a symbol of a political map in motion, where the PQ is gaining momentum, the CAQ is reeling, and Duhaime is left regrouping for another fight. One battle is over, but Quebec’s political war is just heating up.
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