Au Revoir

Quebecers bid Charest adieu, as expected at the polls, with Pauline Marois, of Parti Québécois, moving into a decisive victory with a 73% voter turnout - though they fell short (55 seats) of the expected 65 seat majority they'd hoped to gain in the Assembly.

Rabbleca reports that the biggest excitement of the evening

was the election of Françoise David a noted feminist and social activist with a world wide reputation, who joins Amir Khadir to become the second Québec Solidaire Member of the National Assembly (MNA). David indicated the QS was ready to support the PQ, if the PQ wanted to introduce progressive policies, and saluted Pauline Marois, about to become the first woman to be premier of the province.

Below, a youtube of  Françoise David speaking briefly to wildly enthusiastic supporters, many wearing the student strikers' red felt symbol of solidarity:

 

Pauline Marois' acceptance speech was interrupted by a middle-aged man shooting a gun, his actions dominating the mainstream press news reports.  The individual now in custody reportedly killed one person and injured another.  MacLeansCa On Campus reports that police - who formerly faced off with anti-Loi 78 demonstrators - quickly turned the victory hall into a crime scene investigation, cordoning off the candidate's stage with the characteristic yellow tape.  It is unclear whether the Prime Minister Elect was the intended object of the shooter's actions.

The youtube below shows Pauline Marois whisked off the stage by security, and later making a brief reappearance urging calm, herself modeling a remarkably and admirably calm demeanor throughout the crisis: