Drainville rallies behind Fréchette as she moves quickly to unify CAQ
QUEBEC — With opponent Bernard Drainville rallying behind her, Premier-designate Christine Fréchette said Monday she is already working to keep the Coalition Avenir Québec united.
One day after being elected leader of the CAQ and Quebec’s next premier, Fréchette was up with the birds, meeting friends and supporters at a bakery in her hometown of Trois-Rivières where she launched her campaign in January.
“I will give my all to Quebec and it will start by uniting this beautiful party,” Fréchette told reporters waiting for her.
After shaking hands, a quick coffee and pastry, Fréchette hit the road for Quebec City where she is to hold her first news conference as leader Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
She will be sworn in as Quebec’s 33rd premier Wednesday, replacing François Legault, in addition to meeting her caucus for a first time.
She will announce the composition of her cabinet at a later date.
But her first job Monday was to meet and mend fences with the defeated candidate Drainville.
On Sunday, after Fréchette was elected at the CAQ convention in Drummondville, Drainville made a hasty retreat after her victory speech even if she reached out to him at the time.
“We are going to need you Bernard,” Fréchette said. “I am anxious to build what’s next with you.”
Officials on his team said he needed time to collect his thoughts, but by Monday morning he was saying he supports Fréchette. That statement eliminates for now any talk of a party rift in the aftermath of the acrimonious leadership race.
“The dust has started to settle after the race,” Drainville said in a post on social media. “I want to highlight the victory of Christine Fréchette and assure her of my support. She will be a rigorous and determined premier who will move Quebec forward.
“Christine and I have spoken in the last few hours and have agreed to speak again today.”
During the leadership race, Fréchette promised Drainville, the former environment minister, an important role in her new government. She has not been more specific.
“He brought a lot to the CAQ. He brought a lot to Quebec,” Fréchette said Monday. “We are going to work together.”
Fréchette will also need to make decisions on the kind of legislative agenda she wants to set. Last week, the Quebec cabinet prorogued the legislature until May 5.
This story will be updated.
Editor’s Picks
The post Drainville rallies behind Fréchette as she moves quickly to unify CAQ appeared first on Montreal Gazette.