Quebec separatists vowing independence vote win an election but fall short of majority

TORONTO (AP) – The separatist Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election Monday but fell short of enough seats to govern alone, returning to power with a promise to hold another referendum on independence from Canada.

What happened

For context, the result returns Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's party to power for the first time in more than a decade but denies it the majority it sought, forcing the separatists to rely on opposition parties even as they try to revive Quebec's independence debate.

For context, the party was on track to win almost 60 seats as the final votes were counted, falling short of the 64 needed for a majority in Quebec's 127-member National Assembly, the provincial legislature. A minority administration means PQ will need backing from opposition lawmakers to pass key legislation and survive confidence votes.

St-Pierre Plamondon acknowledged that voters had denied his party a majority. "Quebecers elected the Parti Québécois asking it to work with the other parties, and I heard that message, " he remarked.

The bottom line

In short, quebec separatists vowing independence vote win an election but fall short of is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.