Premier Christine Fréchette is scheduled to commence the provincial election campaign by meeting with Quebec’s lieutenant-governor on Thursday morning. The day’s agenda includes a cabinet meeting in Quebec City at 10 a.m., followed by Fréchette’s session with Lieutenant-Governor Manon Jeannotte at 10:30 a.m. A news conference is planned for 11 a.m. after the meeting concludes.
In adherence to Quebec’s electoral protocol, the provincial head must request the lieutenant-governor, acting as the King’s representative, to dissolve the National Assembly to kick off the election campaign. The campaign period will span 39 days, culminating in election day on Monday, October 5th.
After the campaign launch, party leaders will embark on their campaign tours using their respective buses. Notably, this election features 127 ridings instead of the usual 125, necessitating 64 seats for a majority win—up by one seat compared to previous elections.
This election marks a significant change as François Legault, who secured consecutive majority governments in 2018 and 2022, will not lead the government for the first time since 2018. The province will witness a new leader at the helm following Legault’s tenure.
The main party leaders vying for the premiership are Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Charles Milliard of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), and Ruba Ghazal of Québec Solidaire (QS). Despite the PQ’s current lead in polls, the party’s referendum promise faces skepticism from Quebecers.
