# Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's Political Shift

> Quebec's sovereignty leader now vows to hold referendum he once criticized.
- Title: Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's Political Shift · Nationalpost
- Summary: Quebec's sovereignty leader now vows to hold referendum he once criticized. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, former federalist, now leads Quebec's sovereignty…
- Keywords: paul st-pierre plamondon, parti québécois, sovereignty movement, quebec referendum, federalist, quebec election, news, politics, Paul, St-Pierre, Plamondon's, Political
- Source: Nationalpost — https://nationalpost.com/news/from-political-orphan-to-soon-to-be-quebec-premier-paul-st-pierre-plamondon-is-going-all-in-on-separatism
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: paul st-pierre plamondon, parti québécois, sovereignty movement, quebec referendum, federalist, quebec election, news, politics
## Paul St-Pierre Plamondon
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon arrived at Maison de Radio-Canada for the third and final Quebec election debate on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
## Political Orphan to Sovereignist
St-Pierre Plamondon wrote in his 2014 book Les Orphelins politiques that sovereignty movement obsession harms progressive causes and feels like psychological harassment to most voters.

> To the sovereigntists, I say this: your obsession with holding and winning a referendum harms the progressive cause and feels like psychological harassment to a majority of the population.
## Sovereignty Leader Emerges
Twelve years after writing his book, St-Pierre Plamondon now leads Quebec's sovereignty movement, promising to hold the referendum he once criticized.
## Political Metamorphosis
St-Pierre Plamondon claims he voted 'Yes' in the 1995 referendum at age 18 but switched to federalism after law school and early legal career.
## Political Connections
St-Pierre Plamondon co-founded Génération d’idées with now Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and donated $2,300 to the Liberal Party of Canada between 2004 and 2008.
## Historical Precedent
PQ founders René Lévesque and Jacques Parizeau were once federalists but became leaders of the 1980 and 1995 referendums.
## Key takeaway

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, former federalist, now leads Quebec's sovereignty movement promising a referendum he once opposed.