Quebec Premier François Legault resigns ahead of fall provincial elections

Whether the CAQ can rise from the ashes, just like the federal Liberals did following Trudeau’s resignation almost exactly a year ago, remains to be seen. 

Some internal names have already begun to float around in the media, notably Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, a young lawyer who has held a number of key roles in the government and was charged with helping table major legislation. Those include Bill 96, the province’s revamped French-language law, and the secularism law known as Bill 21.

But choosing someone already in cabinet may not help the CAQ, said Béland, given that the “entire government is unpopular.”

Another option is a “big-name saviour” from the outside, like Mario Dumont, well known in Quebec politics since he entered the field in his 20s. Now 55, Dumont founded Action démocratique Québec in 1994, a centre-right party that was the precursor to the CAQ. 

The ADQ won key byelections in 2002 and was seen as favoured to win the 2003 provincial election, but a number of flubs by the ADQ and a poor debate performance by Dumont led to the election of the Liberals under Jean Charest instead. 

Dumont is now a sought-after political commentator. He has said he wasn’t interested in replacing Legault, but “things can change quite rapidly,” Béland said, noting Legault himself had just weeks ago vowed to run again. 

Correction: A previous version of this update incorrectly stated former Parti Québécois leader Bernard Landry was elected premier in 2003. 

Article source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/livestory/quebec-premier-francois-legault-resigns-9.7045029?cmp=rss