Quebec resignation shocks province amid CAQ political turmoil

Published: 15 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Quebec premier François Legault has announced his sudden Quebec resignation, surprising both supporters and critics across the province. The unexpected Quebec resignation comes amid growing political challenges that have undermined public confidence in the CAQ government and raised questions about the province’s leadership stability. Legault highlighted his pride in founding the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and securing consecutive majority governments, but he acknowledged that ongoing controversies made his position increasingly difficult. The Quebec resignation immediately triggers a leadership contest within the CAQ, with months to select a new leader before the November provincial election.

At a hastily arranged press conference in Quebec City, Legault reflected on his tenure, calling serving as premier the greatest honour of his life. He emphasized his role in shaping the CAQ and winning back-to-back majority governments in 2018 and 2022, accomplishments that cemented his political legacy. Despite stepping down, Legault will remain in office temporarily until the party elects a successor. The Quebec resignation has left the CAQ scrambling to prepare for the election under extraordinary pressure and uncertainty.

The resignation follows a period of turmoil within the governing CAQ. Ministers and allies, including Christian Dubé and Éric Caire, resigned amid disputes over healthcare reforms and cost overruns in government digital projects. These departures compounded the challenges facing the CAQ, weakening voter confidence and prompting scrutiny over the administration’s effectiveness. Public backlash over secular legislation, language policies, and immigration enforcement further complicated Legault’s leadership. Critics argue that these policies contributed directly to the Quebec resignation, illustrating the political risks of pursuing controversial reforms.

Legault’s government has faced criticism for legislation rooted in secularism, including a ban on public prayer and restrictions on religious symbols in the workplace through Bill 21. Language policy also defined his tenure, with strict measures to preserve French as Quebec’s dominant language. These initiatives, while popular with supporters, drew concern from anglophone communities and rights organizations, amplifying divisions across the province. Quebecers witnessed debates over civil liberties, cultural identity, and the balance between provincial and federal authority, all intertwined with the fallout of the Quebec resignation.

Immigration and refugee policy added another layer of controversy. Legault and his ministers stressed that Quebec could not absorb the number of incoming asylum seekers, particularly from Haiti, emphasizing provincial priorities and values. His remarks underscored tensions with the federal government over responsibilities for newcomers and highlighted the political pressures that influenced his decision to step down.

In parallel, the Quebec Liberal Party also experienced leadership instability, with Pablo Rodriguez resigning amid allegations of vote-buying, which he denied. This dual instability gives the nationalist Parti Québécois a strategic advantage, with leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon leading polls and signaling the possibility of a third referendum on separation from Canada if elected.

Legault’s Quebec resignation marks a critical turning point for the CAQ, leaving the party with the urgent task of unifying its base and addressing controversies that defined the past legislative term. Political analysts predict that voter dissatisfaction, combined with leadership transitions, could produce unpredictable outcomes in the November election. The province now faces a pivotal moment as public trust, party cohesion, and Quebec’s cultural identity intersect with an unprecedented political transition.

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