François Legault created the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) in 2011 and has led the party ever since. However, in January 2026, Legault stepped down as premier, setting the stage for a significant leadership transition within the party.
On April 12, 2026, Christine Fréchette was named the new leader of the CAQ and will be sworn in as Quebec’s premier. Fréchette, a former staffer for the Parti Québécois, was elected as a CAQ member of the National Assembly for Sanguinet in 2022. Her leadership campaign focused heavily on economic issues, particularly shale gas and hydraulic fracturing, which resonated with the party’s base.
Fréchette’s only opponent in the leadership race was Bernard Drainville, a former Parti Québécois minister and CAQ MNA for Lévis, who positioned himself as a defender of Quebec’s identity and advocated for stricter immigration policies. The leadership race saw participation from 15,800 members, highlighting the engagement within the party despite its current challenges.
Currently, the CAQ is polling at just nine percent of the vote, with predictions from poll aggregator Qc125 suggesting that the party may win zero seats in the upcoming election. This stark reality underscores the difficulties the CAQ faces as it navigates a changing political landscape.
In her victory speech, Fréchette expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am so happy and proud that you put your trust in me.” She emphasized the need for a new kind of leadership, saying, “Today we’re moving on to a new step. You voted for a new generation.”
Political analysts are closely watching how Fréchette’s leadership will influence the CAQ’s fortunes and the broader political dynamics in Quebec. Jean-Marc Léger noted, “What will happen in the CAQ will have a lot of impact on the provincial election and of course whether the referendum follows that election.”
As Fréchette prepares to take the helm, the implications of her leadership extend beyond the CAQ, potentially affecting the separatist Parti Québécois’s standing against the Quebec Liberals. Observers are keen to see how her policies will resonate with voters and whether they can revitalize the party’s support ahead of the next election.
