Quebec Premier François Legault stands for the inaugural speech at the legislature in Quebec City, on Sept. 30, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot
Quebec Premier François Legault has announced he will step down as both premier and leader of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
Legault made the surprise announcement in Quebec City on Jan. 14, following months of declining poll numbers and ahead of the provincial election scheduled for October.
He said he will formally resign after the party selects a new leader, adding that the decision was made in the best interests of both the CAQ and the province. Legault acknowledged that many Quebecers are calling for a change, including a change in leadership.
“I really want the next election to be about the great challenges facing Quebec and not only about a simple desire for change,” Legault said in a speech.
The premier said some of those challenges include restructuring the economy to provide good jobs for future generations and stopping the decline of the French language in the province, particularly in the Montreal area.
