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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Liberals set to form majority Quebec government | Liberals set to form majority Quebec government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Quebec's Liberal Party is set to form a majority provincial government, routing the Canadian province's main separatist party. | |
| Liberals have won 41% of the vote, with nearly all ballots counted. | Liberals have won 41% of the vote, with nearly all ballots counted. |
| Parti Quebecois (PQ) leader Pauline Marois has resigned in response to the crushing defeat, with her party only obtaining 25%. | Parti Quebecois (PQ) leader Pauline Marois has resigned in response to the crushing defeat, with her party only obtaining 25%. |
| She dissolved the PQ-led minority government last month, after coalition partners blocked the party's agenda. | She dissolved the PQ-led minority government last month, after coalition partners blocked the party's agenda. |
| Liberal leader Philippe Couillard will now become the province's premier. | Liberal leader Philippe Couillard will now become the province's premier. |
| The election centred on PQ's controversial Charter of Values, which would ban public employees from wearing religious items, and a revival of the debate over Quebec's possible independence from Canada. | |
| Turnout of Quebec's six million eligible voters on Monday was projected to be above 60%. Canadian media called the election for the Liberals less than an hour after polls closed. | Turnout of Quebec's six million eligible voters on Monday was projected to be above 60%. Canadian media called the election for the Liberals less than an hour after polls closed. |
| 'Makes me sad' | 'Makes me sad' |
| The Liberal Party has won in 70 out of 125 electoral districts, polling figures show. | The Liberal Party has won in 70 out of 125 electoral districts, polling figures show. |
| Ms Marois, who lost her own district seat, announced she would step down. | Ms Marois, who lost her own district seat, announced she would step down. |
| "The defeat of our party makes me sad," she told supporters late on Monday evening. | "The defeat of our party makes me sad," she told supporters late on Monday evening. |
| "I am leaving my post." | "I am leaving my post." |
| Ms Marois dissolved the provincial legislature 19 months after Parti Quebecois formed a minority government, saying the main opposition parties had sought to block her party's agenda. | Ms Marois dissolved the provincial legislature 19 months after Parti Quebecois formed a minority government, saying the main opposition parties had sought to block her party's agenda. |
| "I'm asking you to give us the means to act," Ms Marois said at the start of the campaign. "We have a plan and the team to make our plan succeed." | "I'm asking you to give us the means to act," Ms Marois said at the start of the campaign. "We have a plan and the team to make our plan succeed." |
| During the bitter 33-day campaign, Ms Marois sought to tamp down on discussion of Quebec independence after party candidate Pierre Karl Peladeau campaigned to "make Quebec a country". | During the bitter 33-day campaign, Ms Marois sought to tamp down on discussion of Quebec independence after party candidate Pierre Karl Peladeau campaigned to "make Quebec a country". |
| Mr Couillard and the Liberal party capitalised on concerns about a potential PQ-led independence referendum for the mainly French-speaking province, arguing such suggestions "weakened" Quebec. | Mr Couillard and the Liberal party capitalised on concerns about a potential PQ-led independence referendum for the mainly French-speaking province, arguing such suggestions "weakened" Quebec. |
| Two referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995 failed. | Two referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995 failed. |
| The issue sidelined talk on the Charter of Values, with which PQ had hoped to rally French-speaking voters in swing regions. | The issue sidelined talk on the Charter of Values, with which PQ had hoped to rally French-speaking voters in swing regions. |
| Protesters including Jews, Sikhs and Muslims have rallied against the charter, while supporters have argued it protects the separation of church and state. | Protesters including Jews, Sikhs and Muslims have rallied against the charter, while supporters have argued it protects the separation of church and state. |
| Opposition parties Coalition Avenir Quebec and Quebec Solidaire were projected to win 17 and two seats respectively. | Opposition parties Coalition Avenir Quebec and Quebec Solidaire were projected to win 17 and two seats respectively. |
| As she voted on Monday, Ms Marois told reporters she trusted Quebecers would "choose a good government to lead them". | As she voted on Monday, Ms Marois told reporters she trusted Quebecers would "choose a good government to lead them". |
| Mr Couillard said earlier on Monday he was "happy" with the Liberals' campaign. | Mr Couillard said earlier on Monday he was "happy" with the Liberals' campaign. |
| "I'm confident about the result but it's now time for citizens to speak," Mr Couillard said. "Politicians have spoken enough." | "I'm confident about the result but it's now time for citizens to speak," Mr Couillard said. "Politicians have spoken enough." |