“Quebec Court Orders Recount in Champlain Riding”

A judicial recount has been approved by a Quebec court judge for the Champlain riding. Conservative candidate Adriana Szalontai secured victory in the Mauricie region on Oct. 5, leading by 191 votes over Parti Québécois candidate René Branchaud. Branchaud had requested the recount, citing irregularities and procedural errors. The margin of victory was beyond the automatic recount threshold, but concerns were raised about potential ballot rejections due to errors or inaccuracies. Judge Éric Martel ordered the recount to commence at the Trois-Rivières courthouse on Thursday. Elections Québec stated that a recount must start within four business days of a court ruling. Additionally, a recount began in the Vachon riding at the Longueuil courthouse, where Quebec Liberal Party’s Affine Lwalalika won by just 10 votes over the PQ’s Stephan Fogaing.