The premier of Quebec (
French: ''premier ministre du Québec'' (masculine) or ''première ministre du Québec'' (feminine)) is the
head of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, ...
of the
Canadian province of
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
. The current
premier of Quebec is
François Legault
François Legault (; born May 26, 1957) is a Canadian politician serving as the 32nd premier of Quebec since 2018. A member of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), he has led the party since its founding in 2011. Legault sits as a member of the ...
of the
Coalition Avenir Québec, sworn in on October 18, 2018, following
that year's election.
Selection and qualifications
The premier of Quebec is appointed as president of the
Executive Council by the
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, the viceregal representative of the
Queen in Right of Quebec. The premier is most usually the head of the party winning the most seats in the
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec (officially in french: link=no, Assemblée nationale du Québec) is the legislative body of the province of Quebec in Canada. Legislators are called MNAs (Members of the National Assembly; french: link=no, déput ...
and is normally a sitting member of the National Assembly. An exception to this rule occurs when the winning party's leader fails to win a riding. In that case, the premier would have to attain a seat by winning a by-election. This has happened, for example, to
Robert Bourassa in 1985.
The role of the premier of Quebec is to set the legislative priorities on the opening speech of the National Assembly. The premier represents the leading party and must have the confidence of the assembly, as expressed by votes on budgets and other matters considered as confidence votes.
The term "premier" is used in English, while French employs "premier ministre", which translates directly to "prime minister". In at least one instance, the term "Prime Minister of the Province of Quebec" was used in an English-language advertisement.
The term is also used for the Podium Ceremony of the annual Formula One Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal.
History
The premiers of Quebec are chosen according to the principle of
responsible government.
See also
*
Politics of Quebec
*
List of premiers of Quebec
*
List of premiers of Quebec by time in office
*
Prime Minister of Canada
The prime minister of Canada (french: premier ministre du Canada, link=no) is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the confidence of a majority the elected House of Commons; as su ...
*
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier ( ) is the head of government of a province or territory. Though the word is merely a synonym for ''prime minister'', it is employed for provincial prime ministers to differentiate them from the prime minister of Canada. Th ...
References
External links
Premier of Quebec official site
{{Politics of Canadian provinces
*
Government of Quebec
1867 establishments in Quebec