After being wiped off political map, what's next for the CAQ?

After securing dominant majority governments in back-to-back provincial elections, the Coalition Avenir Québec is now both without a seat in the National Assembly and without a leader, raising questions about the party's future and viability as a political entity.

Party's executive director says lots of people interested in becoming next leader

Antoni Nerestant · CBC News

· Posted: Oct 12, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Listen to this article

Estimated 5 minutes

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

After securing dominant majority governments in the 2018 and 2022 provincial elections, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is now both without a seat and without a leader, raising questions about the party's future and viability as a political entity.

Christine Fréchette resigned as party leader last Tuesday, the day after the election.

The CAQ, which was founded in 2011 with the goal of being a third alternative to sovereignty and federalism, was wiped off the political map, failing to pick up a single seat in the National Assembly despite receiving a little more than 572,000 votes.

The Parti Québécois, with 59 out of 127 seats, will form a minority government.

So what's next for the CAQ?

Here's a snapshot of where things stand as the party tries to pick up the pieces after a devastating election defeat.

Who is the next leader?

Following Fréchette's exit, the CAQ's next step is to appoint an interim leader.

In an interview with Radio-Canada's Tout un matin, the CAQ's executive director Brigitte Legault (not related to party co-founder and former premier François Legault) said the party's executive board will appoint someone on Oct. 17.

That person will be tasked, Legault says, with organizing the party's next leadership race. There is currently no timeline for that race.

Without naming names, Legault said there are many party members who are interested in becoming the next leader and taking on the task of reviving the CAQ.

"Many people are raising their hands left and right," she said.

"We have a challenge ahead of us. There are certain people who have been elected in the past, many of them actually, that want to roll up their sleeves."

Guillaume Rousseau, a lawyer and a CAQ candidate in this past election, told Radio-Canada he is keeping an open mind about running for the party leadership.

Rousseau finished fourth in Richmond, a riding in the Eastern Townships.

• More on Guillaume Rousseau's ties to the CAQ, his work on secularism

WATCH | Calls for electoral reform after the Oct. 5 vote:

Why the PQ’s victory is reviving calls for electoral reform in Quebec

October 8|

Duration

1:52

The Parti Québécois secured enough seats for a minority government with only 28 per cent of the popular vote. Advocates say that outcome is proof the system needs to change.

Merger with another party?

The CAQ's colossal defeat raised questions about whether the party would simply cease to exist — or merge with another.

But Legault says that kind of talk is premature.

When asked if the party is considering a merger, specifically with the Conservative Party of Quebec, Legault said: "Not at all."

"We're a brand that has been in government for eight years and I think it's worth to try and relaunch everything."

• ANALYSIS

  CAQ fatigue key to sovereignist PQ's historic victory, fragile government

Ultimately, such decisions would be up to party members, she said, but added that based on what she's heard so far, a merger is not in the cards.

"They believe in this third path [between federalism and sovereignty], they believe in this balance that we struck between the economy and nationalism," Legault said. "We just need to re-inspire, recreate and find our creativity."

Ian Lafrenière, one of many longtime CAQ ministers who were defeated on election night, said the party needs to take a moment to reflect on how it can "reconnect with citizens."

"Thirteen per cent of people voted for us so there were lots of votes but no candidates were elected, so I think the option is still viable," Lafrenière said.

Brigitte Legault, seen here during a news conference in April of this year, says she's heard from former CAQ ministers and MNAs who are interested in leading the party. (Sylvain Roy Roussel/CBC)

Over half a million votes still count for something

If the CAQ does try to rebuild itself, their financial picture isn't clear but it appears it will have some financial backbone.

In Quebec electoral law, each authorized political party receives an annual allowance based on its share of the vote in the latest general election. The total pot to be divided between the parties is equivalent to $1.99 for each registered voter (6.4 million).

For the CAQ, that is an estimated $1.7 million annually — even if it has no one at the National Assembly.

• Was Christine Fréchette forced off a political 'glass cliff'?

Quebec's Election Act also calls for parties who receive at least one per cent of the vote to get a reimbursement of 50 per cent of their campaign expenses. Candidates can also receive a reimbursement of 50 per cent of their individual campaign expenses if they were elected or received 15 per cent of the vote.

Legault says the CAQ failed to meet that 15-per-cent threshold in many ridings, but adds that the party also saved some money to prepare for the election's aftermath.

"We have employees, we have a party, we have members, we have activites to plan," Legault said. "We'll see with the new leader how we will proceed."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Antoni Nerestant has been with CBC Montreal since 2015. He's worked as a video journalist, a sports reporter and a web writer, covering everything from Quebec provincial politics to the 2022 Beijing Olympics.