My reaction to the Quebec 2012 election results was, in a nutshell, quite satisfied, especially given what the polls and the media, including English outlets, were crowing.

Despite a tired Parti Liberal du Quebec government (whose vote was split with the Coalition Avenir Quebec), the defection of some disenchanted PLQ supporters to the Parti Quebecois, and the polarizing effect of the federal Tories whose policies are widely unpopular in Quebec, the final result was a slim minority mandate to the PQ.  Just four seats and less than one per cent of the popular vote (31.94 percent vs. 31.2 per cent) separated them from the Liberals.