Quebec Liberals Swear Allegiance to the People Without the King

Quebec's Liberal Party began a new phase of its political recovery Monday, October 19, 2026, as its elected lawmakers took their oaths of office at the National Assembly in Quebec City, pledging allegiance exclusively to the people of Quebec rather than King Charles III. Newly appointed opposition leader Charles Milliard backed the approach as the party sought to regain voter confidence following the October 5 election.

According to Radio-Canada, 39 Liberal lawmakers participated in the ceremony at the Red Room of the National Assembly. The victory of Affine Lwalalika in the Vachon riding remained subject to a judicial recount, with an outcome expected by midweek.

The party's elected representation increased from 18 seats when the legislature was dissolved to 40 following the election. The oath ceremony marked the first time Quebec Liberals had elected lawmakers since legislation abolishing the mandatory oath of allegiance to the monarch took effect in late 2022.

Milliard acknowledged that the election result represented progress but said the party still had significant work ahead to rebuild its support across the province. He warned that the Liberals needed to reconnect with voters in regions where they had struggled and restore confidence among Quebecers.

In his address, Milliard declared that the Liberals were back while emphasizing that the party's recovery remained unfinished.

Former Quebec premier Jean Charest attended the ceremony to witness his son, Antoine Dionne Charest, take his oath as the new member for Verdun. Charest emphasized the importance of expanding the party's appeal, particularly among French-speaking voters and in regions where the Liberals had failed to achieve their expected results.

Madwa-Nika Cadet, the member for Bourassa-Sauvé and the newly appointed chief opposition whip, defended the decision to place Quebecers at the center of the oath ceremony. She distinguished the party's federalist position from support for the monarchy, arguing that the two political positions were not equivalent.

Milliard confirmed that choosing the oath to the Quebec people had been a collective decision within the Liberal caucus. He declined to credit Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon for the legislative change that made the alternative oath possible, despite Plamondon's role in bringing the issue to the Assembly in 2022.

Milliard also criticized the designated premier's stated intention to dismantle aspects of the existing political system. The constitutionality of the 2022 legislation abolishing the mandatory royal oath is currently being challenged.

Language choices during the ceremony also drew attention. Seventeen Liberal lawmakers took their oaths in both French and English, although French is Quebec's sole official and common language. Milliard, who took his oath in French only, described bilingual oaths as a longstanding practice dating to the beginning of the Canadian federation in 1867.

Marc Tanguay, the Liberal member for LaFontaine in Montreal, defended taking the oath in both languages as a gesture of respect and unity. He argued that Quebec's political divisions should not prevent lawmakers from representing communities across the province.

Antoine Dionne Charest took his oath exclusively in French, explaining that it was the language in which he felt most comfortable. He also emphasized that the Liberal Party intended to represent all Quebecers, including the English-speaking community.

Looking ahead to the minority government led by Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Milliard said the Liberals would cooperate in the National Assembly without abandoning their political principles. He identified the possibility of a third Quebec sovereignty referendum, immigration policy and economic issues as areas where his party would take a firm position.

The new Liberal caucus was scheduled to hold its first meeting Tuesday afternoon at Château Royal in Laval.