Union Nationale (Quebec)

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The Union Nationale was a Quebec political party that existed in two main periods and had a short revival starting in 2020. It started in 1935 from a loose alliance of two groups and was led by Maurice Duplessis. The party won power in 1936 and governed on and off until 1970, promoting Quebec nationalism, rural interests, and traditional social values. It was known for its strong stance against communism and for close ties with the Catholic Church. The party was often called the National Union in English.

Key moments
- 1935: Formed from the Action libérale nationale (ALN) and the Conservative Party.
- 1936: Won a majority in Quebec’s election under Duplessis.
- 1939: Lost after a pledge against conscription during World War II.
- 1944-1960: Returned to power for most of this period, pushing rural electrification and other policies; during this era, the party adopted the Quebec flag in 1948.
- 1960s: Faced reforms of the Quiet Revolution and internal divisions as Quebec society modernized.
- 1966-1970: Won again; this was the last time the party formed government.
- 1970s-1980s: Decline continued; the party faced leadership changes and split support.
- 1989: The party’s registration was cancelled due to heavy debt, effectively ending it as a political force.

Dissolution and later attempts
- After losing official status in 1989, the Union Nationale name was briefly revived as Part of attempts to re-enter politics. The party, in various forms, struggled to regain strength and never returned to its former influence.
- The political space left by its decline contributed to the rise of other parties, such as the ADQ and later Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).

Revival in 2020
- A new Union Nationale party was registered in 2020 by Jonathan Blanchette. It positioned itself against COVID-19 public health restrictions and promoted direct democracy.
- It ran a candidate in the 2022 Quebec general election and later participated in by-elections, including the 2025 Terrebonne by-election, where it finished in eighth place.

Ideology and colors
- First period: national conservatism, Quebec nationalism, right-wing populism, anti-communism, economic liberalism, and clerico-nationalism.
- Second period (revival): opposition to public health restrictions and advocacy of direct democracy.
- Colors associated with the party: blue and red.

In short, the Union Nationale was a major Quebec party that shaped mid-20th-century politics with a mix of conservatism and nationalism, faded after the 1960s, and has seen only limited, later attempts to re-emerge.