The Albany Gazette - Quebec separatist premier sworn in without royal presence

The new premier, Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon, heads the Parti Quebecois (PQ), which is committed to independence for the majority French-speaking province.

Known widely by his initials, PSPP, the new premier has condemned the British monarchy's enduring presence in Quebec as an "archaic symbol of British colonial domination."

At PSPP's request, Quebec Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeannotte did not attend the ceremony but watched from her office and formally confirmed provincial cabinet appointments, as required by Canadian law.

It marked the first time a Quebec premier was sworn in without a representative of the British monarchy present.

Canada remains a member of the British Commonwealth, and King Charles is the country's head of state. He is represented in Ottawa by a governor general and in the provinces by lieutenant governors.

PSPP has said he wants to defund the lieutenant governor's office and allocate the resources to confronting homelessness.

Polls indicate that only about 30 percent of Quebecers support independence, but PSPP maintains his government will hold a referendum.

It just won't happen while President Donald Trump is in office, he has said, arguing he does not want the debate over the issue to be hijacked by a volatile US leader.

The new premier was sworn in just two days after the western province of Alberta chose overwhelmingly to remain part of Canada in a non-binding vote that dealt a blow to Alberta separatists.

PSPP argued in an X post that even though Alberta separatists won only 24 percent of the vote, that amounts to proof that "Canada as it is doesn't work" and that "the status quo is no longer acceptable."

(L.Thomas--TAG)