Quebec premier to meet lieutenant-governor Thursday, launching election campaign

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The sovereigntist Parti Québécois has been leading in public opinion polls since 2023, and has won four straight byelections.

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However, that lead has shrunk in recent months, and analysts say issues such as resurgent referendum conversations and the U.S. trade war could shift the outcome of the campaign.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has promised to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty in the next four years if his party forms government, although he said earlier this month that the vote would only happen after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House.

Fréchette will lead the Coalition Avenir Québec party into the election campaign after succeeding François Legault earlier this year.

She will face St-Pierre Plamondon as well as Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal and Éric Duhaime of the Conservatives.

At the moment, the Coalition Avenir Québec holds 79 seats in the legislature, compared to 18 for the Quebec Liberal Party, 11 for Québec solidaire, and seven for the Parti Québécois.

The Quebec Conservative Party holds one seat, and there are nine independent members.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2026.

The Canadian Press