Christine Fréchette, newly elected Coalition Avenir Québec chief and premier-designate, has a bit greater than 5 months to revive her celebration earlier than the provincial elections, and to outline herself in a crowded political discipline.
Her election over the weekend to exchange departing premier François Legault comes at a precarious second for her celebration, which is deeply unpopular after back-to-back majority mandates. Polling aggregator Qc125 predicts the CAQ, which Legault had positioned as a right-leaning nationalist however federalist celebration, is on observe to win zero seats on Oct. 5.
“I really feel a bit nervous as a result of it’s my first day in my new position as premier,” Fréchette instructed reporters upon her arrival on Monday on the premier’s workplace in Quebec Metropolis. “It’s an exquisite problem, an immense problem, and I really feel really moved to be entrusted with this duty.”
First elected in 2022, Fréchette held the immigration and economic system portfolios beneath Legault. The approaching months will probably be decisive: she is already identified to Quebecers however might want to rapidly construct a political program in distinction to the opposite events which can be approach forward within the polls, says political scientist Éric Bélanger. And she or he’ll have to outline her management whereas distinguishing herself from Legault’s legacy, Bélanger, McGill professor and co-holder of analysis chair on democracy, social cohesion and shared values in Quebec, mentioned in an interview Monday.
“She has to step out of his shadow,” he mentioned.
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The problem is compounded by rising competitors for votes — Fréchette might want to fend off makes an attempt by the Parti Québécois and the Conservatives to court docket disaffected CAQ voters, Bélanger mentioned.
A lot of her marketing campaign centered on financial points — an space the place Bélanger mentioned she seems most snug — together with reopening the controversy round shale gasoline and hydraulic fracturing. “She presents herself as somebody involved in regards to the financial state of affairs, about affordability,” he mentioned. “But in addition she needs to seem as somebody dependable.”
That positioning may additionally make it more durable for her to tell apart herself from Liberal Chief Charles Milliard, who can also be emphasizing financial credibility.
Through the management marketing campaign, she appeared extra shaky on nationalist floor in comparison with her management challenger, Bernard Drainville, whom she beat on Sunday with virtually 58 per cent of the vote. Drainville had positioned himself as the very best suited to defend Quebecers’ language and tradition.
On Monday, PQ Chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon took to social media to deal with Quebec nationalists who might not see themselves in a celebration run by Fréchette. “To all nationalists who care deeply about defending Quebec values, your house is with the Parti Québécois.”
In the meantime, Conservative Chief Eric Duhaime attacked the CAQ’s proper flank, suggesting the celebration had borrowed a lot of his concepts, together with on useful resource exploitation. “I’m extending a hand to all Quebecers who need to rethink the bureaucratic mannequin and improve Quebec’s energy throughout the Canadian Confederation.”
Bélanger additionally pointed to parallels with federal politics, suggesting Fréchette could also be aiming to duplicate the type of celebration reset seen with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who helped revive the federal Liberals final 12 months after taking on from an unpopular chief by emphasizing financial credibility.
”Will we see a ‘Fréchette impact’?” he requested.
However Bélanger cautioned that Quebec’s political panorama is fragmented, with a number of aggressive events, relatively than a largely two-party dynamic between the Conservatives and Liberals on the federal stage.
“If the CAQ comes again, it turns into a three-way race,” he mentioned. “However the query is: the place will these votes come from?”
Aggregator Qc125 places the Liberals and PQ neck and neck, throughout the margin of error of most up-to-date polls. The CAQ is fourth, behind the Conservatives.
Past technique, those that have labored with Fréchette described somebody identified for her self-discipline and a spotlight to element. Stéphane Paquet, president and CEO of Montréal Worldwide, an company centered on attracting overseas funding to the Montreal space — and Fréchette’s former employer — described her as ”studious.”
“She’s somebody who is aware of her information, reads her briefings and comes again with good questions,” he mentioned, including that her work fashion reminded him of former Quebec premier Pauline Marois, whom he additionally labored with throughout his profession. Marois is the one different girl to function Quebec premier, with the PQ from 2012-14.
For Paquet, Fréchette’s resolution to enter politics displays a broader motivation. “For those who have a look at her path, she’s somebody who needs to make a distinction,” he mentioned.
Jean-Denis Charest, who succeeded Fréchette as head of the Chambre de commerce de l’Est de Montréal, a enterprise affiliation that promotes financial improvement within the metropolis’s east finish, provided the same evaluation. She demonstrated a powerful command of her information and ensured a easy transition when she left the position, he mentioned.
“She was very beneficiant and had an actual concern for continuity and the success of the group,” he mentioned, noting she remained accessible for recommendation even after her departure.
Fréchette served as president and CEO of the Chambre de commerce de l’Est de Montréal from 2016 till coming into politics in 2022. Charest additionally pointed to her management through the COVID-19 pandemic, when she oversaw the group by a interval of financial uncertainty for native companies.
On the similar time, he mentioned he noticed a aspect of her character that’s much less seen publicly. “She has a dry sense of humour and a fast wit,” he mentioned.
Fréchette is to be sworn because the second CAQ chief within the 15-year historical past of the celebration, earlier than the Quebec legislature resumes early subsequent month, however a date has not but been formally set.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 13, 2026.
— With information from Thomas Laberge and Patrice Bergeron