CAQ leadership race | Christine Fréchette formalizes her candidacy
(Trois-Rivières) The Minister of the Economy, Christine Fréchette, announced Sunday morning that she is entering the race for leadership of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
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She made this announcement in the premises of the company specializing in industrial construction Groupe PRO-B, in Trois-Rivières, the city where she was born.
Mme Fréchette was surrounded by several MPs who support her, including the minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, the Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, as well as the MP for Iberville, Audrey Bogemans.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The Minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, was present to support the candidacy of Christine Fréchette
Both candidates will have to temporarily withdraw from their positions as ministers, under the rules of the race revealed Thursday.
Former PQ member, Christine Fréchette was elected for the first time in 2022 under the colors of the CAQ in the constituency of Sanguinet, in Montérégie.
She first held the post of Minister of Immigration. After the departure of Pierre Fitzgibbon, she took over the files of the superminister of the Economy.
She notably piloted the important energy reform adopted under gag order last June.
To qualify, candidates will need to obtain the signatures of 1,000 CAQ members from at least 75 constituencies, including 15 deputies and 100 members of the party’s youth wing.
They will also have to make a non-refundable lump sum contribution of $30,000. Election expenses are capped at $150,000.
Interested people have until February 21 to submit their application. The new leader of the CAQ, and therefore the next prime minister, will be chosen on April 12.
Minister Drainville announced his participation in the leadership race on Saturday. He has the support of the Minister for the Economy, Samuel Poulin, and MPs Kariane Bourassa, Yannick Gagnon and Isabelle Lecours.
The Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, said Friday that he would not enter the race, just like the former Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel. On Saturday, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Jean-François Simard, indicated that he was giving up running as a candidate.
With information from Thomas Laberge
Read “CAQ leadership race: “We bury the third way too soon””
