Coalition Avenir Québec

Coalition Avenir Québec. It is a centre-right to right-wing political party in Quebec, Canada. Founded in 2011 by former Parti Québécois minister François Legault and businessman Charles Sirois, the party first formed the Official Opposition in 2012 before winning a majority government in the 2018 Quebec general election. It advocates for Quebec nationalism and greater provincial autonomy within Confederation, while prioritizing economic development and government efficiency.

History

The party was officially launched on November 4, 2011, merging Legault's nascent movement with the existing party Action démocratique du Québec. In its first electoral test, the 2012 Quebec general election, it won 19 seats, becoming the Official Opposition under Legault's leadership. After a second-place finish in the 2014 Quebec general election behind the Quebec Liberal Party government of Philippe Couillard, it achieved a decisive victory in the 2018 Quebec general election, ending nearly 50 years of alternating power between the Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti Québécois. This win was followed by an even larger majority in the 2022 Quebec general election, securing 90 of 125 seats in the National Assembly of Quebec.

Ideology and political positions

The party's platform combines Quebec nationalism with a pragmatic, economically liberal approach to governance. It supports autonomism, seeking to maximize Quebec's powers within Canada without pursuing sovereignty. Key policy pillars have included reforming the immigration system, notably through Bill 9, and enacting Bill 21, the secularism law affecting public sector employees. Its agenda also emphasizes economic nationalism, supporting major projects like the Plan Nord, and has included significant reforms to the education system and the healthcare network.

Electoral performance

The party made its electoral debut in the 2012 Quebec general election, capturing 27% of the popular vote and 19 seats in the National Assembly of Quebec. It increased its vote share to 23% in the 2014 Quebec general election but won fewer seats. Its breakthrough came in 2018, winning 37% of the vote and 74 seats to form a majority government. In the 2022 Quebec general election, it achieved a historic victory with 41% of the vote and 90 seats, marking one of the largest majorities in Quebec's political history, significantly diminishing the representation of the Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Québécois, and Québec solidaire.

Leadership

The party has been led since its inception by François Legault, a former Parti Québécois cabinet minister and co-founder of Air Transat. The presidency of the party has been held by figures such as Catherine Loubier. Other prominent figures within the party have included former Action démocratique du Québec leader Gérard Deltell, and ministers like Sonia LeBel, Christian Dubé, and Jean-François Roberge. The leadership remains closely associated with Legault's personal political brand and his prior experience in the Quebec cabinet.

Structure and organization

The party is structured with a central executive, including a president and a board of directors, overseeing regional associations across Quebec's 125 electoral ridings. Its financing relies on contributions from members and supporters, operating under the regulations of Quebec's Chief Electoral Officer. The party maintains a professional apparatus distinct from traditional federalist and sovereigntist movements, often recruiting candidates from business, academia, and the civil society sectors rather than established political circles.

Category:Political parties in Quebec Category:2011 establishments in Quebec