Parti Québécois members swear allegiance to Quebec people instead of King

The newly elected Parti Québécois caucus, led by premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has completed its swearing-in ceremony by pledging allegiance to ‘the people of Quebec’ rather than King Charles III.

This practice is permitted under a law adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec in December 2022, which made the oath to the monarch optional. While the oath of loyalty to the people remains mandatory for members to sit in the legislature, the constitutionality of bypassing the royal oath is currently being challenged in Quebec Superior Court.

During the ceremony, Lieutenant-Governor Manon Jeannotte was not present. St-Pierre Plamondon has expressed intentions to redirect funding from the Lieutenant-Governor’s office toward addressing homelessness in the province.