Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette will run in the riding of Trois-Rivières instead of Sanguinet in the coming provincial election, it was announced Thursday.

Fréchette has represented the Montérégie-area riding of Sanguinet since her first election as a member of the National Assembly in 2022, but has chosen to return to her roots in her hometown of Trois-Rivières.

“This is where I grew up, where I learned to love Quebec — our identity, our language and our culture,” Fréchette said in a statement. “Today, I’m choosing to come home and put all of my experience to work for the people of Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region. At a time of economic uncertainty, our regions need a strong voice to protect our economy, create good jobs and help build Quebec’s future.”

Fréchette is Quebec’s 33rd premier and the second CAQ leader in the 15-year history of the party, after François Legault. She’s the second woman to be Quebec premier, after the Parti Québécois’s Pauline Marois. Fréchette has worked as minister of immigration, francization and integration, and minister of the economy, innovation and energy.

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The Trois-Rivières riding is currently held by CAQ MNA and Labour Minister Jean Boulet, who is not seeking re-election.

Fréchette thanked Boulet in her statement on Thursday. 

“I also want to thank the people of Sanguinet from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “I will never forget the trust you placed in me in 2022. I will always be grateful to you because you gave me my real chance in politics.” 

Fréchette added Trois-Rivières is “where it all began” for her, noting she went to school there all her life, where she had her first job, where her parents still live and where her partner was born and raised. 

“I already know some people will say I’m running away,” she said. “The truth is much simpler: I’m coming home. … With humility, I will work to earn the trust of the people of Trois-Rivières.” 

The Quebec election is set to take place on Oct. 5.

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