QUÉBEC — Quebec Premier François Legault has announced he is resigning, triggering a leadership race with only months to go before the fall provincial election.
Legault told reporters in Quebec City that he would remain in his position until a new leader is chosen for his Coalition Avenir Québec party.
“I see well that right now Quebecers want change first, and among other things, a change of premier,” he said. “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’s convincing election victory in 2018 marked the start of a new era in Quebec politics, ending nearly 50 years of Liberal and Parti Québécois rule.
The 68-year-old Air Transat co-founder led his party to a second straight victory in 2022, buoyed by his popularity among francophones, the fragmentation of the opposition and the sustained visibility he obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But in more recent times Legault’s party has been beset by struggles including a ballooning deficit, a scandal at the province’s auto insurance board and hostile negotiations with the province’s doctors that led to the resignation to two of his cabinet ministers.
Including Christian Dubé and Lionel Carmant – who left their cabinet posts amid the doctor talks – the party lost six legislature members in 2025.
In his resignation speech, Legault said he hoped the next election would be focused on the big challenges facing Quebec, such as the economy and protecting the French language, rather than a desire for change.
The next provincial election is scheduled for October 5.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 14, 2026.
The Canadian Press
