Since his cabinet reshuffle last September, François Legault has opened up multiple fronts. Nothing is off limits. The axe has fallen on the doctors’ unions with the imposition of a special law, war has been declared on labor unions that use their members’ money for partisan politics, the government is cutting in bureaucracy, and once again fly the flag of secularism.
One might wonder what has gotten into the Premier to take on so many sensitive issues just a year before the elections. After all, isn’t a majority government’s final year in office usually reserved for wooing as many voters as possible?
To understand François Legault’s genuine motivation, one must look beyond the latest polls and electoral results.
Contrary to what many political observers claim, the CAQ is more than just François Legault. It is also the heir to the Action démocratique du Québec and, in a certain sense, the Union Nationale. The CAQ was meant to be the political vehicle uniting Quebec’s nationalists and center-right conservatives: the “Bleus”
However, it is clear that in recent years, the CAQ government has drifted from its electoral base. The Quebec City region, historically a stronghold for the CAQ and the ADQ, has rejected several government initiatives over time. In exercising power, the CAQ has sometimes hesitated to assert itself, seeking consensus more than pursuing the reforms that once defined it.
This loss of direction is largely explained by the party’s transformation during the pandemic. Crisis management quickly took precedence over politics, overshadowing the government’s original vision. The CAQ struggled to break free from this mindset after the pandemic, failing to reassert its own political orientation. In trying to please everyone, the government ended up appealing to no one, creating an ideological void that other parties, like the Quebec Conservative Party or to some extent the Parti Québécois, are now trying to fill.
The actions taken by the Premier in recent weeks are certainly aimed at ultimately winning back public opinion. But beyond this tactical reading, it is above all an attempt to restore a solid ideological base to his political party.
This more assertive shift is not without risks. By adopting a sharper tone, François Legault risks alienating some moderate voters who appreciated his flexible and cautious approach. But his motivation runs deeper: to win back the “blue” electorate, which, though demanding, would remain more loyal in the long term than purely circumstantial support. In short, Legault prefers to remain ideologically true rather than temporarily popular.
Embracing a more conservative, center-right ideological compass allows the CAQ to redefine itself, clarify its identity, and set itself apart from other parties in the long term. It’s a risky repositioning, which may not yield immediate results, but is necessary for a party that aspires to endure.
Because François Legault’s legacy will not be measured solely by his government’s management results or the promises he kept or didn’t keep. It will also be judged by his ability to build a lasting political vehicle, capable of surviving under any circumstances.
