.JPG?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
François Legault is resigning as Quebec’s premier after more than seven years in power amid a slump in popularity and with a provincial election on the horizon.
Legault made the announcement at a hastily-called news conference in Quebec City on Wednesday as October’s provincial election approaches. He told reporters he would remain premier until a new leader is chosen for his Coalition Avenir Québec party, known as the CAQ, which he co-founded in 2011.
The news is triggering a sudden leadership race and adding further instability to the province’s political landscape. With only months to go before the fall provincial election begins, two of the main parties are now leaderless after Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez resigned in December.
The news of Legault’s resignation comes after a difficult year that saw his party running third in the polls, behind the Parti Québécois and the Liberals, as well as losing six legislature members, including five who are now sitting as Independents.
“I can clearly see that right now, many Quebecers are first and foremost calling for change, including a change of premier,” Legault said in his resignation announcement. “I can guarantee you that every day I got up telling myself, ‘I want what’s best for Quebecers.’ I didn’t always succeed, but I can guarantee that I tried — I tried very hard, with all the energy I had.
Get breaking National news
For the good of my party and especially for the good of Quebec, I am announcing today that I will leave my position as Quebec premier.”
Legault, 68, who gained significant prominence as he guided Quebecers through the COVID-19 pandemic and steered the party he founded to two decisive majority wins, has since suffered a dramatic fall from grace.
His government has been tarnished by scandal, including the ongoing SAAQclic fiasco involving $500 million in cost overruns at the province’s auto insurance board, the failed Northvolt battery venture, continued problems in the health-care system, a shortage of teachers, and a handful of controversial legislations on secularism (Bill 21), the Charter of the French Language (Bill 96), and Bill 2 — a legislation passed through closure that would tie doctors’ pay in the province to performance.
He has also failed to deliver on some of the commitments that helped propel him to power in 2018, including cutting the size of the bureaucracy, which has only grown under his government.
At the start of the fall legislative session in September 2025, the Air Transat co-founder presented what some political observers called a shift to the right, with promises to make cuts to the public service, crack down on crime and speed up approvals for major projects.
He even walked into the party convention that month accompanied by the theme song from Rocky III, throwing a few mock punches, and paraphrased an aging Sylvester Stallone to a roomful of supporters in Gatineau, Que.
“It’s not the force of the blows that counts, it’s the ability to take them and keep moving forward,” he said. “I’m ready to keep taking hits.”
Who will replace him wasn’t immediately clear; according to the polling firm SOM, leading candidates include Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and Education Minister Sonia LeBel, followed by Christian Dubé and Geneviève Guilbault.
Economy Minister Christine Fréchette and Environment Minister Bernard Drainville are also seen as potential successors.
Legault said he will remain in his post until his successor is chosen.
Election day in Quebec is Oct. 5.
— with files from The Canadian Press
-
![]()
François Legault announces resignation as Quebec’s premier -
![]()
Legault faces another setback as Dubé steps down as health minister -
![]()
François Legault reaches new low in popularity polls -
![]()
Another Quebec politician leaves Legault’s CAQ party over doctor legislation, Bill 2 -
![]()
Legault upset after Ford extends invitation to Quebec doctors
.JPG?w=1200&quality=70&strip=all)
Comments