Agadir – In a significant political development, three politicians of Moroccan descent have successfully secured seats in Quebec’s National Assembly following the provincial election held on October 5 in Canada. This election saw the Parti Québécois (PQ) returning to power after more than a decade of absence. Monsef Derraji, Nada Boumeftah, and Valérie Assouline, all representing the Quebec Liberal Party, emerged victorious in their respective electoral districts, as reported by various Quebec media outlets.
The election results indicate that the PQ won 59 out of the 127 seats in the National Assembly, falling short of the 64 seats needed for a majority. Consequently, the party will operate under a minority government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. Notably, the PQ obtained 27.9% of the votes, marking the lowest percentage for any winning party in Quebec's electoral history, according to a report by Reuters.
Furthermore, the Associated Press confirmed that, despite winning the election, the PQ will require support from opposition parties to effectively govern, particularly as the incumbent Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) faced a complete loss of the 79 seats it held prior to the election.
Monsef Derraji Retains His Nelligan Seat
Monsef Derraji, originally from Morocco, has successfully secured another term as the representative for Nelligan under the Quebec Liberal Party banner. Derraji first entered Quebec’s National Assembly in 2018 and was striving for a third mandate during the recent elections. The Quebec Liberal Party had positioned him as its candidate in Nelligan, where he previously served as an opposition critic focusing on health and transportation issues. His re-election was confirmed amidst the PQ rising as the largest party in the province.
Notable Wins for Boumeftah and Assouline
Nada Boumeftah, another candidate of Moroccan origin, achieved success in the Maurice-Richard riding in Montreal. As a lawyer specializing in criminal law and youth protection, Boumeftah has established her own law firm since 2016 and has garnered recognition as a legal commentator. She triumphed over Québec Solidaire candidate Anne Latendresse in a tightly contested race, marking her first entry into the National Assembly.
Valérie Assouline also claimed victory in the Saint-Laurent riding for the Quebec Liberal Party. With a specialization in family and youth law, Assouline previously held the position of bâtonnière of the Montreal Bar for 2025-2026 and served as a municipal councillor in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. She has now taken over the seat from former Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy after her successful campaign in the recent elections. The achievements of these three politicians further enhance the representation of individuals with Moroccan roots within Quebec’s provincial institutions.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
