Starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the approximately 20,500 members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) will begin voting for their next leader.
The election, open to those who were members as of March 13, is expected to determine whether Bernard Drainville or Christine Fréchette will take the reins of the political party.
Those eligible to vote have until 3 p.m. on Sunday to cast their ballots and should have already received a letter explaining how to do so.
Premier François Legault’s successor as head of the CAQ and premier of Quebec is expected to be announced Sunday at the party’s convention in Drummondville.
According to preliminary figures released by the CAQ in mid-March, 20,576 members will be eligible to vote.
The race kicked off in January, when Legault announced his intention to step down as CAQ leader and not seek re-election in October.
Drainville and Fréchette have since put forward numerous proposals, garnered support within the party caucus and debated face-to-face on two occasions, in Quebec City and Laval.
Fréchette quickly secured the support of several ministers, including Jean-François Roberge, Benoit Charette, Mathieu Lacombe, Ian Lafrenière, Eric Girard and France-Élaine Duranceau.
She also received the backing of former minister Lionel Carmant.
Drainville is backed by members of the legislature, Economy Minister Samuel Poulin and leaders of the CAQ’s youth wing.
He announced on Monday that he also had the support of three ministers: Jonatan Julien, Simon Jolin-Barrette and Sonia Bélanger.
While he is set to step down as premier once the next CAQ leader is chosen, Legault has said he plans to complete his term as the member for L’Assomption.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
