CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette loses seat

Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Christine Frechette put her hand in a heart shape en the end of her speech at the Coalition Avenir Quebec gathering in Trois-Rivieres, Que., Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot)

Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette has lost her seat in the provincial riding of Trois-Rivières.

Fréchette had previously represented the Sanguinet riding on the south shore of Montreal.

But she decided to run in her hometown, about 125 kilometres northeast of Montreal in 2026.

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Fréchette has been the premier of Quebec and leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec since she won the party’s leadership race in April.

She replaced former premier François Legault who led the party to two consecutive majority governments in 2018 and 2022.

Fréchette is the second woman to serve as premier of Quebec after Pauline Marois.

Fréchette studied business administration, economics and international trade before earning a master’s degree in international relations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2026