CAQ leadership: Bernard Drainville to run to succeed François Legault
Posted January 24, 2026 11:44 am.
Last Updated January 24, 2026 6:16 pm.
Environment Minister Bernard Drainville chose to preempt his colleague, Economy Minister Christine Fréchette, and launch his leadership campaign on Saturday. He wants the CAQ to be the “party of the real people.”
“To regain the trust of Quebecers, we must remain true to the DNA of the CAQ: a centre-right nationalism rooted in our regions and driven by courage and passion. That is the third way,” he stated in a video posted on social media Saturday afternoon.
Drainville has the support of the Minister Delegate for the Economy, Samuel Poulin, and of the Members of Parliament Kariane Bourassa, Yannick Gagnon and Isabelle Lecours.
Bernard Drainville began his political career with the Parti Québécois. He served as Minister of Democratic Institutions and Citizen Participation under Pauline Marois.
In 2022, he returned to politics and was elected in the Lévis riding for the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). He served as Minister of Education and then Minister of the Environment.
For her part, Christine Fréchette will launch her campaign on Sunday in Trois-Rivières to try to succeed François Legault.
She already has several supporters within the CAQ caucus, including ministers Gilles Bélanger, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, Kateri Champagne Jourdain and Ian Lafrenière.
On Friday, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette finally announced that he was withdrawing from the race.
The rules of the race were unveiled on Thursday. Bernard Drainville and Christine Fréchette will have to temporarily step down from their ministerial positions to be candidates.
To qualify, candidates will need to obtain the signatures of 1000 CAQ members from at least 75 ridings, including 15 members of parliament and 100 members of the party’s youth wing.
They will also have to make a non-refundable lump-sum contribution of $30,000. Election expenses are capped at $150,000.
Interested individuals have until Feb. 21st to submit their applications. The new leader of the CAQ, and therefore the next premier, will be chosen on April 12th.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
