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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Quebec votes in close elections | Quebec votes in close elections |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Canadians in the mainly French-speaking Quebec province are electing a new government in a tight three-way race. | Canadians in the mainly French-speaking Quebec province are electing a new government in a tight three-way race. |
| The poll has again raised the prospect of independence from Canada, with the nationalist Parti Quebecois (PQ) vowing to hold a vote on the issue if elected. | The poll has again raised the prospect of independence from Canada, with the nationalist Parti Quebecois (PQ) vowing to hold a vote on the issue if elected. |
| It is seeking to regain power from the federalist Liberal Party and Premier Jean Charest who is seeking a new term. | It is seeking to regain power from the federalist Liberal Party and Premier Jean Charest who is seeking a new term. |
| But both parties are facing a strong challenge from a new conservative group, the Action Democratique (ADQ). | But both parties are facing a strong challenge from a new conservative group, the Action Democratique (ADQ). |
| The ADQ wants the province to be more autonomous, but not independent. | |
| Balance of power | Balance of power |
| The provincial assembly's 125 seats are up for election on Monday. | The provincial assembly's 125 seats are up for election on Monday. |
| Turnout among Quebec's 5.6 million voters is expected to be high. Pollsters say many of them have declared themselves undecided. | Turnout among Quebec's 5.6 million voters is expected to be high. Pollsters say many of them have declared themselves undecided. |
| QUEBEC ELECTIONS 5.6m registered voters80% of them are French speakers125 seats up for election | QUEBEC ELECTIONS 5.6m registered voters80% of them are French speakers125 seats up for election |
| None of the three parties is expected to obtain enough support to form a government on its own. | None of the three parties is expected to obtain enough support to form a government on its own. |
| Mr Charest, who has been in power for four years, has faced criticism for failing to cut taxes. | Mr Charest, who has been in power for four years, has faced criticism for failing to cut taxes. |
| He says the PQ's independence ambitions are out of tune with what most Quebec residents want. | He says the PQ's independence ambitions are out of tune with what most Quebec residents want. |
| PQ leader Andre Boisclair has accused him of being too close to the Conservative federal government of Stephen Harper. | PQ leader Andre Boisclair has accused him of being too close to the Conservative federal government of Stephen Harper. |
| Mr Boisclair has said he will hold a referendum on independence as soon as possible if elected. | Mr Boisclair has said he will hold a referendum on independence as soon as possible if elected. |
| The last referendum on the issue, in 1995, rejected separation by about one percentage point. | The last referendum on the issue, in 1995, rejected separation by about one percentage point. |
| If there is a minority government, analysts say the balance of power could be held by the ADQ, which is led by Mario Dumont. | If there is a minority government, analysts say the balance of power could be held by the ADQ, which is led by Mario Dumont. |
| The BBC's Lee Carter says Mr Dumont is a charismatic figure who has been attracting voters disillusioned with the established players. | The BBC's Lee Carter says Mr Dumont is a charismatic figure who has been attracting voters disillusioned with the established players. |