In a dramatic turn of events, former Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal is running for the Parti Québécois (PQ) in the Taschereau riding in Quebec City. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon made the announcement on X late Monday afternoon. “Vincent is a thorough guy, a formidable parliamentarian, and a representative who is fully committed to every issue he takes on,” he wrote. Last week, the PQ candidate in Taschereau, Jeanne Robin, announced she was withdrawing for personal reasons. The split between Québec Solidaire (QS) and Vincent Marissal happened in a rather acrimonious manner in November 2025. He was expelled after holding talks with Paul St-Pierre Plamondon regarding a potential PQ candidacy. Marissal had then criticized his former party for being ungovernable. “It’s a party that’s paralyzed by its base; it’s a party that’s completely bogged down and unable to break free. There’s a phenomenal gap between the caucus and the activist base,” he lamented. Marissal subsequently announced that he would be leaving politics at the end of his term. He has evidently used the summer to reconsider his career choices. Marissal has been the Member of the National Assembly for Rosemont in Montreal since 2018. He is therefore changing his political party, his riding, and his city for the 2026 elections. - This article by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 24, 2026
