After Christine Fréchette’s victory, PQ now courting CAQ nationalists

The CAQ's Christine Frechette arrives at the leadership convention in Drummondville, Que., on Sunday, April 12, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)

In the wake of Christine Fréchette’s victory as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is now courting supporters of defeated candidate Bernard Drainville.

In a post on social media platform X on Monday, he wrote: “At the Parti Québécois, we are firmly convinced that Quebecers have the right to make their own choices freely, whether it be for the flourishing of their language and culture, how they live together, or the sound management of public finances.”

“To all nationalists who care deeply about defending Quebec values, your place is with the Parti Québécois. Our door is wide open,” he added.

For the PQ leader, the “third way” embodied by the CAQ “has reached its limits.”

On Sunday, in his congratulatory message to Fréchette, St-Pierre Plamondon wrote that Drainville’s defeat marked “the defeat of the ‘blue’ nationalist faction in favour of CAQ members more aligned with the party’s ‘red’ school of thought.”

He also described the Lévis MNA’s leadership campaign as “courageous.”

Fréchette was elected CAQ leader on Sunday with 57.9 per cent of the membership vote.

READ MORE: Christine Fréchette awaits swearing-in as premier after winning CAQ leadership

She quickly issued a call for unity within her party.

Drainville was seen as the candidate who best embodied the nationalist and identity-focused camp within the CAQ leadership race.

The former PQ member strengthened secularism in schools as the former minister of education.

He also received the support of the CAQ’s leading nationalist figure, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette.

Provincially, a two-way race is taking shape between the PQ and the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) ahead of the upcoming October election.

The latest Léger poll shows the Liberals at 33 per cent, one point ahead of the PQ.

The CAQ is trailing far behind at 13 per cent.

• READ MORE: Christine Fréchette is Quebec’s new premier

The Qc125 poll aggregator is placing the PQ and the PLQ neck and neck in terms of voting percentage.

The PQ, however, is maintaining its lead in projected seats, with 63 compared to 47 for the Liberals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 13, 2026.