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Can the Coalition Avenir Quebec survive with no elected officials?

  • Pierre Saint-Arnaud

    Pierre Saint-Arnaud

  • Canadian Press

  • October 6, 2026

Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Christine Frechette briefly closes her eyes during her election night speech at a party gathering in Trois-Rivieres, Que., on Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL -- The Coalition Avenir Quebec did not win a single seat at the provincial legislature in Monday's election after eight years in power.

Leader Christine Frechette said in the last week of the campaign that she would not resign as leader regardless of election results.

Experts are divided whether the CAQ can survive after being wiped off the political map following a vote that handed the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois a minority government.

Universite Laval political science professor Thierry Giasson says many Quebecers still believe in the CAQ's "third way" between federalism and independence.

His colleague Andre Bodet agrees, saying the PQ was also expected to disappear after the last election.

But Universite de Montreal political science professor Martin Papillon points out that the party, founded by former premier Francois Legault, does not have deep historical roots.

All three agree that Frechette's time in politics is likely over after she failed to win her riding.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2026.