Quebec Premier François Legault has framed the upcoming 2026 provincial election as a pivotal three-way contest, directly cautioning voters that choosing the Parti Québécois would mean choosing another sovereignty referendum.
A Strategic Appeal to Voters
During a public question-and-answer session on the Radio-Canada political show La parole aux mordus de politique on Friday, December 5, 2025, Legault addressed his current low popularity. He downplayed the polls and shifted focus to the future, urging Quebecers to meticulously compare him to his main rivals before casting their ballots.
The premier explicitly named the three individuals he believes could become premier: Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Pablo Rodriguez of the Quebec Liberal Party, and himself as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
The Ballot Box Question: Referendum vs. Status Quo
Legault, 68, argued that as the election approaches, voters will ask themselves a defining question. He presented it as a clear triad of choices: Do they want PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who is committed to holding a referendum? Do they want Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez, who Legault claims would not work to reverse the decline of French in Montreal? Or do they want him, François Legault?
He contended that this comparative framework would lead voters to judge his seven years in office less harshly. "It's clear if we ask the question: 'Do I prefer Paul, Pablo or François?' is different than asking the question: 'Am I happy with all the decisions François Legault has made over seven years,'" Legault stated.
Exploiting Opponent Weaknesses and Economic Fears
His comments came during a week where both the PQ and Liberals faced separate controversies, regarding party ethics and a feud with Quebec's artistic community, respectively. Legault, who seeks a third mandate, is attempting to define the electoral debate by raising doubts about his opponents' readiness to govern.
While acknowledging the PQ's lead in opinion polls, Legault insisted that a significant portion of their supporters do not want the independence referendum the party promises upon winning in 2026. "They will need to understand that they are getting both parcels at the same time," he warned. He argued that voting for the PQ is an inseparable vote for a referendum, which would create immediate economic uncertainty on top of that potentially generated by a second Trump presidency in the United States.
Legault reinforced this point by citing his finance minister, Eric Girard, who recently stated that investors are nervous about the PQ's potential resurgence. The premier's message was unequivocal: voters cannot have Paul St-Pierre Plamondon as premier without also accepting his referendum project.
By framing the 2026 election around the high-stakes issue of sovereignty and the perceived risks of his opponents, Legault has laid out his core re-election strategy more than a year before voters go to the polls.
