Quebec's premier announces his resignation ahead of provincial election this year

TORONTO (AP) — The leader of Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec announced Wednesday he is stepping down because he is unpopular.

The Coalition Avenir Québec party will have a short time to choose a new leader to replace Premier François Legault ahead of the provincial election scheduled for this fall.

Legault founded the party and has been Quebec’s premier since 2018.

“I'm seeing now that many Quebecers are hoping and wanting a change and a change in premier," Legault said.

"For the good of my party, and especially for the good of Quebec, I am announcing that I will be resigning my position as the premier of Quebec,”

Legault said he will stay on until a new party leader has been appointed.

“He is the least popular premier in the country right now,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

“He has been in power since late 2018, and he was very popular at first but his popularity started to decline in early-mid 2023. People lost trust in him and his government due to unpopular policies and poor public communications, among other things.”

The Coalition Avenir Québec has sought more autonomy and power for Quebec within Canada.

Quebec’s separatist party, the Parti Québécois, might win the provincial election in the fall.

The province's Liberal party, staunch supporters of Canadian unity, are also in need of a new leader after its previous leader stepped down over allegations of vote-buying by party members.

Quebec’s identity has been contentious since the 1760s when the British completed their takeover of what was then called New France. In the 1960s, the Parti Quebecois was formed under the leadership of a TV commentator-turned-politician named Rene Levesque, who would go on to rule the province for nine years.

Quebec, which is about 80% French-speaking, has significant autonomy already. The province of 9.1 million sets its own income tax, has its own immigration policy favoring French speakers, and has legislation prioritizing French over English. Voters have twice rejected sovereignty, though only by a razor-thin margin in a 1995 referendum.

“The presence of Donald Trump in the White House should give pause to those who think a provincial independence referendum is a good idea in the current context,” Béland said.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, accompanied by his chief of staff Martin Koskinen, left, and wife Isabelle Brais, right, pauses as he announces his resignation in Quebec City, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, accompanied by his chief of staff Martin Koskinen, left, and wife Isabelle Brais, right, walk to a news conference to announce his resignation in Quebec City, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his wife, Isabelle Brais, walk to a news conference to announce his resignation in Quebec City, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his wife, Isabelle Brais, walk to a news conference to announce his resignation in Quebec City, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault announces his resignation during a news conference at his office in Quebec City, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)

HOUSTON (AP) — Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made an early save on a free kick and the Seattle Reign went on to preserve a scoreless draw on the road against the Houston Dash on a rainy Friday night.

It was the lone match on the National Women's Soccer League schedule on Friday.

Dickey finished with five saves for the Reign (3-2-2), who were coming off a 3-0 loss at home to the Utah Royals last weekend. She was pressured at the start, but saved Kat Rader's free kick in the seventh minute.

Jane Campbell also had five saves for the Houston (3-2-1), which fell 1-0 to the Courage last weekend in the team's first loss at home this season.

The Reign were without veteran midfielder Jess Fishlock, who was carted off the field with a leg injury against Utah. Coach Laura Harvey said this week the injury was not season-ending and she expects Fishlock back at some point.

Just days before she was injured, Fishlock had announced that she planned to retire at the end of the season. She has played for the Reign since 2013, when the league launched.

Houston's Danielle Colaprico started for her220th career NWSL appearance, second in the league among active players behind Fishlock.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell (1) gestures during an NWSL soccer match against the Angel City FC, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)