Christine Fréchette quits as CAQ leader, but stays as premier until the handover
Christine Fréchette announced on Tuesday afternoon that she is resigning as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, a day after the party won no seats and she lost Trois-Rivières. She said she will remain premier until the premier-designate, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is sworn in. She said the party needs new leadership to rebuild before the next election. CTV News, The Globe and Mail, Global News and Radio-Canada all reported it. She became premier in April after François Legault stepped down.
A party with no seats and no leader has no voice in the National Assembly. The race to replace her will decide whether the CAQ tries to rebuild as a nationalist force or merges toward the Liberals or Conservatives.
Nothing changes this week. Government continues under her until the swearing-in.
The question for the CAQ is who wants the job. Without seats, there is no Opposition platform to run from.
DailyDrop Canada edition No. 2 · Morning · TUE., OCT. 6, 2026