Quebec byelections: Liberals keep 3 seats, PQ 1

Provincial byelections in four Quebec ridings Monday saw the Liberals keep their three seats in Fabre, Beauce-Sud and St-HenriSte-Anne and the Parti Qubcois win in Ren-Lvesque in the Saguenay region.

Liberal candidatesDominiqueAnglade inSt-HenriSte-Anne,Paul Busque in Beauce-SudandMonique Sauv in Fabrewon, as did the PQ'sMartin Ouelletin Ren-Lvesque.

St-HenriSte-Anne

Dominique Anglade, who had served as president of the Coalition Avenir Qubec from January 2012 to September 2013, won after a close battle with PQ candidate Gabrielle Lemieux.

The star Liberal candidate beatthe PQ's Lemieuxby a 1,206votes to keep the seat Liberal.

Fabre

Monique Sauv had no trouble winning her seat in Fabre, securing almost 44per cent of the vote. PQ candidate Jibril Akaaboune Le-Franoisfinished second with almost29per cent of the vote. A total of1,757 votes separated the two.

Beauce-Sud

Liberal candidate Paul Busque wonwith almost 56per centof the vote, bestingCAQ candidate Tom Redmondby more than 5,000 votes.

Ren-Lvesque

PQ candidate Martin Ouellet won in the longtime PQ bastion of Ren-Lvesquewith 48per cent of the vote, toppingLiberal candidateKarine Otis by more than 1,300 votes.

Couillard celebrates

QuebecPremier Philippe CouillardjoinedAnglade at her victory party in St-HenriSte-Anne.

"Three nice victories for the party ofrecovery and revival inQuebec, and a good night for democracy," he said.

For her part, Angladesaid economic development and community developmentgo hand in handand promised to work towards both ends for constituents of St-HenriSte-Anne.

"For both to work, we have to listen to each other and talk to each other," she said.

Low voter turnout

Voter turnout is historically lower inbyelectionsand Monday's results maintained that trend.

The decision to hold the byelectionsso soon after the federal election on Oct. 19 drew criticism from opposition parties in Quebec's National Assembly, who believedit would affect turnout.

Quebec's director-general of elections reported a turnout ranging from a low of 22per cent inFabreto a high of 43per cent in Beauce-Sud.

Voter turnout in the Montreal riding of St-HenriSte-Anne was 24per cent and just under 40per cent in Ren-Lvesque.

Those percentages include advance polls.

Thebyelectionscome after three LiberalMNAs RobertDutil, GillesOuimetand MargueriteBlais stepped down in recent months.

MarjolainDufour, a PartiQubcois MNA, retired inSeptemberciting health reasons.

The governing Liberals have 68 seats, compared to 28 for the PQ, 20 for the Coalition Avenir Qubecand three seats for Qubec Solidaire.

There is one independentin the legislature.

After today's byelections, there will still be one vacant seat in the legislature, after thePQ's Stphane Bdard announced he was leaving politics last month.

Riding profiles

• Fabre
• St-HenriSte-Anne
• Beauce-Sud
• Ren-Lvesque

Advanced polls for thebyelectiontook place onNov. 1 and2.