Coalition Avenir Québec
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Leader | François Legault |
President | Stéphane Le Bouyonnec |
Founded | 4 November 2011 |
Headquarters | 4020, rue Saint-Ambroise Bureau 499, Montreal, Quebec H4C 2C7 |
Ideology |
Quebec federalism Quebec nationalism Fiscal conservatism |
Political position | Centre-right |
Colours | Blue |
Seats in the National Assembly |
21 / 125
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Website | |
www |
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The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ; pronounced: [kɔ.a.li.sjɔ̃ av.niʁ ke.bɛk], "Coalition for Quebec's Future"), is a centre-right provincial political party in Quebec, Canada.
It was founded by former Parti Québécois (PQ) cabinet minister François Legault and businessman Charles Sirois; Legault also serves as the party leader of CAQ. The party membership includes both Quebec nationalists and federalists. Legault has said it will never endorse a referendum on sovereignty, but more autonomy 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 (Coalition Avenir Quebec-Team 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 had requested that the term "coalisés" be used instead.
In February 2011, François Legault and Charles Sirois held a press conference to announce the formation of a movement to be known as the "Coalition pour l'avenir du Québec", literally Coalition for the Future of Quebec.
In September 2011, the CAQ began discussions with the ADQ on the possibility of a merger between the two groups.
On 14 November 2011, Legault held a press conference to launch the movement as a political party under the slightly modified name of Coalition Avenir Québec, unveiling a new logo at the same time. The actual registration of the party with the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec had already taken place on 4 November.