Coalition Avenir Québec
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ; French: [kɔ.a.li.sjɔ̃ av.niʁ ke.bɛk], lit. 'Quebec Future Coalition' or 'Future Quebec Coalition') is a Quebec nationalist, autonomist and conservative provincial political party in Quebec.
Coalition Avenir Québec | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CAQ |
| Leader | François Legault |
| President | Sarah Beaumier |
| Founders | François Legault Charles Sirois |
| Founded | 4 November 2011 |
| Split from | Parti Québécois |
| Headquarters | 1260 Rue Mill, Montreal, Quebec H3K 2B4 |
| Membership (2022) | 50,000 |
| Ideology |
|
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colours | Blue |
| Seats in the National Assembly | 88 / 125 |
| Website | |
| www | |
| |
It was founded by former Parti Québécois (PQ) cabinet minister François Legault and businessman Charles Sirois; Legault also serves as the party leader. The party membership includes both Quebec nationalists and federalists. Legault has said it will never endorse a referendum on sovereignty; the party doesn’t support Quebec independence, but will seek more autonomy within Canada if necessary.
Not long after its formation, the party gained nine sitting Members of the National Assembly of Quebec (MNAs) who had been elected as members of the PQ and of the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ); the ADQ later merged with the CAQ in January 2012. The party is registered with the Director-General of Elections in Quebec under the name Coalition avenir Québec – L'équipe François Legault.
Members and supporters of the party are referred to as "caquistes", derived from the French pronunciation of the party's initials. However, the party has requested that the term "coalisés" be used instead.
On 1 October 2018, the CAQ won a majority of seats in the National Assembly of Quebec, allowing it to form a government for the first time. It increased its majority in the 2022 elections.