Eric Girard endorses Christine Fréchette in CAQ leadership race
Posted March 23, 2026 2:57 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2026 3:00 pm.
The Legault government’s chief financial officer has finally chosen a side in the CAQ leadership race. Finance Minister Eric Girard announced his support for former Economy Minister Christine Fréchette on Monday.
Girard, who had himself considered running in the leadership race, confirmed the news on the sidelines of an event at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.
The minister was speaking to business leaders to discuss his eighth budget, which he unveiled last week. In it, he allocated $250 million annually for the next party leader who will take the reins next month.
Girard had said a few months ago that he would remain neutral in the leadership race, which pits Fréchette against former Environment Minister Bernard Drainville.
This is not the first major endorsement Fréchette has received from the cabinet. She can notably count on the support of ministers Jean-François Roberge, Gilles Bélanger, Kateri Champagne-Jourdain, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, and Ian Lafrenière.
The next leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec and successor to François Legault as Premier of Quebec will be chosen on April 12.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
