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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Heavy loss for Quebec separatists | Heavy loss for Quebec separatists |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Quebec's opposition nationalists have suffered a heavy defeat in elections in the French-speaking province, putting paid to plans for an independence vote. | Quebec's opposition nationalists have suffered a heavy defeat in elections in the French-speaking province, putting paid to plans for an independence vote. |
| But the ruling Liberal Party also fared badly, losing its majority amid a surge by the right-of-centre Action Democratic party (ADQ). | But the ruling Liberal Party also fared badly, losing its majority amid a surge by the right-of-centre Action Democratic party (ADQ). |
| The ADQ advocates more autonomy for Quebec, but within a federal Canada. | The ADQ advocates more autonomy for Quebec, but within a federal Canada. |
| Correspondents say it appears Quebec will have a minority government for the first time in more than 100 years. | Correspondents say it appears Quebec will have a minority government for the first time in more than 100 years. |
| The nationalists, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), which had promised to hold a referendum on independence if elected, was trailing in third place. | The nationalists, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), which had promised to hold a referendum on independence if elected, was trailing in third place. |
| 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. |
| Charismatic figure | Charismatic figure |
| The provincial assembly's 125 seats were contested on Monday. | The provincial assembly's 125 seats were contested on Monday. |
| 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 |
| The ADQ is led by Mario Dumont, a charismatic figure who has been attracting voters disillusioned with the established players. | The ADQ is led by Mario Dumont, a charismatic figure who has been attracting voters disillusioned with the established players. |
| Analysts say that many of the ADQ's votes came from those disaffected with the separatist Parti Quebecois. | Analysts say that many of the ADQ's votes came from those disaffected with the separatist Parti Quebecois. |
| With around two-thirds of the ballots counted, the ADQ, which went into the polls with five seats in Quebec's National Assembly, appeared set to secure about 40 seats. | |
| That put it just behind the Liberal Party but ahead of the PQ. | |
| But there was confusion over the fate of Liberal Premier Jean Charest, who initially appeared to have lost his seat to the PQ but regained the lead. | But there was confusion over the fate of Liberal Premier Jean Charest, who initially appeared to have lost his seat to the PQ but regained the lead. |
| 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. |