Court of Quebec orders a judicial recount in riding Parti Québécois lost narrowly
The Court of Quebec has granted the Parti Québécois’ request and ordered a judicial recount in the Champlain riding in the Mauricie region.
The PQ argued there were irregularities in the vote in the riding, which its candidate René Branchaud lost to the Conservative Adriana Szalontai by 191 votes.
Judge Éric Martel rejected several of the anomalies brought up by the party, but acknowledged that only a recount could shed light on the situation.
The PQ said there were discrepancies between the tally sheets and the number of ballots cast, while the Conservative party said these came from a mistake in recording the number of unused ballots.
The recount of the ballots cast on election day will begin Thursday at the Trois-Rivières courthouse.
The PQ was also granted a recount in the Vachon riding, in the Montérégie region, where its candidate lost to the Liberal candidate by ten votes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
— With information from Frédéric Lacroix-Couture and Caroline Plante
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.