François Legault created the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) in 2011 and has led the party ever since. However, in January 2026, he stepped down as Premier of Quebec, marking a significant shift in the province’s political landscape.
In a recent leadership race, Christine Fréchette has been named the new leader of the CAQ and will be sworn in as the new Quebec Premier. Fréchette and Bernard Drainville were the only candidates in this leadership contest, which saw 15,800 members casting their votes.
Fréchette, a former staffer for the Parti Québécois, focused her campaign on economic issues, particularly shale gas and hydraulic fracturing. In contrast, Drainville positioned himself as a defender of Quebec’s identity, advocating for stricter immigration policies.
Upon her election, 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.”
The CAQ is currently polling at just nine percent of the vote, and poll aggregator Qc125 predicts that the party will win zero seats in the next election. This situation raises questions about the party’s future and its ability to maintain influence in Quebec politics.
Jean-Marc Léger, a political analyst, noted that the developments within the CAQ will significantly impact the upcoming provincial election and the potential for a referendum on Quebec’s independence. He stated, “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.”
Fréchette was elected as a CAQ member of the National Assembly for Sanguinet in 2022, while Drainville also joined the CAQ as an MNA for Lévis the same year. Their contrasting backgrounds and political strategies could shape the party’s direction moving forward.
As the political landscape evolves, observers will be closely monitoring how Fréchette’s leadership will influence the CAQ’s standing and its competition with the Parti Québécois and the Quebec Liberals.
