The Parti Québécois has signalled a shift in position ahead of Quebec's fall election, with its leader saying he will not move quickly on an independence referendum.
Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon now says that if he becomes premier, he will not hold a referendum on Quebec's independence so long as Donald Trump is in power in the United States.
"Given the circumstances in the U.S., we will choose intelligently the best moment for discussion on our future," Plamondon said.
The stance marks a change from his earlier commitment. Plamondon had previously promised to hold a vote on independence during his first mandate.
He now says he wants to avoid the issue being, as he put it, hijacked by American politics.
The decision has drawn mixed reviews. One critic said it was a bizarre way for him to position himself, arguing that what Quebec needs right now is a strong leader.
Others framed the move as a matter of strategy, tied to the political climate in the United States for as long as Trump remains in power.