Approximately 20,000 members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) are set to elect their next leader on Sunday, a vote that will determine who serves as Quebec’s premier for the remainder of the current mandate, lasting just under six months. The candidates vying for the party's leadership are Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville.

The upcoming leadership contest is notable for the relatively small number of party members expected to decide the outcome — potentially fewer than 10,000 may cast ballots. The CAQ has committed to publicly disclosing the winner’s share of the vote, providing insight into the new leader’s mandate within the party.

Ahead of the vote closure at 3 p.m., both candidates will deliver final speeches between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., aiming to sway undecided members. Following the conclusion of voting, outgoing Premier François Legault will address party militants to mark his departure, followed by a 45-minute tribute ceremony. The new leader is anticipated to be announced around 4 p.m., immediately addressing Quebecers upon their selection.

With Legault having already begun clearing his offices in Quebec City and Montreal, as well as vacating the official residence in the Price Building, he is permitted to continue using these assets until his successor takes office. Legault will also be entitled to keep his official limousine and security detail for two years, as legislated.

The incoming premier faces the immediate challenge of reversing the party's declining polling figures, which currently place the CAQ significantly behind opposition parties. The prorogation of the National Assembly, scheduled to last about three weeks, will offer a window for the new administration to organize and make key appointments.

Bernard Drainville, if victorious, has announced plans to reduce the size of the cabinet from 26 to 20 ministers. He has also pledged to appoint Fréchette as vice-premier minister despite having previously criticized her. Fréchette, meanwhile, has not publicly detailed any intentions for cabinet restructuring.

After more than seven years in power, the CAQ faces a period of reinvention as it aims to recapture public support ahead of the October elections. The leadership selection marks a critical juncture for the party to redefine its direction in a competitive political landscape.