Quebec Economy Minister Christine Fréchette has thrown her hat into the ring to potentially follow in the footsteps of François Legault as the new leader of Quebec. This news was announced in Trois-Rivières on Sunday.
Fréchette is no stranger to the political arena and has garnered significant support from key members within the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) caucus, such as ministers Gilles Bélanger, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, and Ian Lafrenière.
To officially join the race, Fréchette will need to temporarily step down from her ministerial responsibilities. The competition rules were unveiled on Thursday, outlining the requirements for candidates.
In order to be considered, contenders must secure 1,000 signatures from CAQ members across 75 ridings, including backing from 15 National Assembly members and 100 youth wing members. They are also expected to provide a non-refundable lump sum fee of $30,000, with campaign spending restricted to a maximum of $150,000.
Amidst the buzz, Ministers Simon Jolin-Barrette (Justice) and Bernard Drainville (Environment) are contemplating their potential candidacy. Natural Resources Minister Jean-François Simard is also weighing his options.
As the deadline for submissions looms on February 21, the anticipation builds towards the selection of the new CAQ leader and Quebec’s next premier on April 12.
Keyphrase: Quebec leadership race
