Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette announced that she will step down as party leader after her party failed to win any seats in the provincial election. “I accept the responsibility for the results of last night,” Fréchette said Tuesday in a press conference in Québec City. “I’m resigning as CAQ leader, and I will remain premier until my successor is sworn in.” Fréchette said she believes in the party’s future, but that a new leader is needed to revitalize the party ahead of the next provincial election. “Especially in the context of a minority government,” Fréchette said. Between federalism and independence Despite the results of the election, Fréchette said she is still convinced that the CAQ’s “third way” — between federalism and independence — is the right path for the province. “It’s a nationalist, economic, pragmatic approach that allows Quebec to make its own decisions and defend its interests,” Fréchette said. Serving as the province’s premier was the honour of her life, Fréchette said. She thanked Quebecers and her party and said she was leaving with pride and gratitude. “And to women, especially young women, I say, take your place, get involved, lead and shape our future, so that having a woman lead Quebec becomes the norm,” Fréchette said. The CAQ held power in Quebec for eight years, first under its founder François Legault, and later under Fréchette. Fréchette became premier in April after winning the CAQ leadership race. She succeeded Legault, who won back-to-back majority governments in 2018 and 2022. He stepped down in January 2026 after polls showed his party was losing support among Quebecers. At the dissolution of the National Assembly before the election campaign began in August, the CAQ held 79 seats. The party lost all its seats in the election, while the Parti Québécois won a minority government, making party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon the Premier-designate of Quebec. Fréchette lost her seat in her riding of Trois-Rivières. ‘She is not responsible’: Legault In Fréchette’s concession speech, she took full responsibility for the party’s loss. In a social media post, Legault thanked Fréchette for her commitment to politics and said she was not responsible. “Christine has been a competent minister and premier. Her speech last night was dignified and exemplary,” Legault wrote. “She showed a great deal of courage during this election campaign. She is not responsible for the ‘wear and tear of power’ that affects all governments. I wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavours.” Fréchette joined the CAQ after winning her former riding of Sanguinet in the 2022 Quebec election. After her win, she was appointed minister of immigration and later economy minister. She is the second woman to serve as premier of Quebec, after Pauline Marois of the Parti Québécois, the party’s last premier in 2014.
