Politics · Canada · 4 hrs ago
Quebec Liberal deputies pledge allegiance only to the people of Quebec
Thirty-nine Quebec Liberal deputies pledged allegiance only to the people of Quebec at the National Assembly on Monday.
This was the first time the Quebec Liberal Party had taken this approach, though deputies could also have sworn allegiance to King Charles III.
A 2022 law made the oath to the king optional, after the party had no elected deputies when the law passed.
The Liberals are now the official opposition, and their number of elected members rose from 18 to 40 between the last legislature's dissolution and the election.
Leader Charles Milliard said the party's rebuilding is not finished, and that it needs to regain trust, especially in regions where it has struggled and among francophone voters.
Seventeen deputies also took their oaths in both French and English, while French is Quebec's only official and common language.
The result of a judicial recount in Vachon is expected midweek, and will settle the status of Affine Lwalalika's victory.
Thirty-nine Quebec Liberal deputies pledged allegiance only to the people of Quebec at the National Assembly on Monday.
It was the first time the party’s elected members had made that choice.
Party leader Charles Milliard said the Liberals were back but still had work to do to rebuild trust and win support in more regions.
The party had 40 elected deputies after the election, but the result in Vachon was under judicial recount.
Seventeen Liberal deputies took their oath in both French and English.
- Who
- Thirty-nine Quebec Liberal deputies, led by party leader Charles Milliard.
- What
- They swore allegiance only to the people of Quebec, without mentioning King Charles III.
- When
- Monday afternoon, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The Salon rouge at Quebec’s National Assembly.
- Why
- Milliard made it a caucus decision, and said allegiance to the people of Quebec was the priority.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Quebec adopted a law abolishing the requirement for legislators to swear allegiance to the monarch.
Quebec’s election result marked a significant step for the Liberal Party, Milliard said.
Thirty-nine Liberal deputies swore allegiance only to the people of Quebec at the National Assembly.
The outcome of the judicial recount in Vachon was expected to be known.
- Deputies sworn in
- 39
- Liberal deputies elected
- 40
- Deputies taking the oath in French and English
- 17
- Party leader
- Charles Milliard
- Vachon result
- Under judicial recount
3 sources
What people are saying
The PLQ is back
I thought it was a good idea, and everyone in caucus agreed
First and foremost, our allegiance is to the people of Quebec
We have to win trust in the regions of Quebec where we did not have the success we hoped for, among francophones in particular, and that work begins today