Rimouski MNA and former minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina announced Thursday that she is leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and, at the same time, called on its leader François Legault to step down.

She had expressed her disappointment last week after losing her portfolio as Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. At the time, she said, “It’s clear that my confidence in the premier and his inner circle has been shaken at this point.”

But at the same time, she said she still had faith in the CAQ and still wanted to run under its banner in the 2026 election.

But on Thursday, the divorce was final. After attending the CAQ caucus meeting, she announced at a press conference that she would sit as an independent member and indicated that she wanted to run in 2026.

“I can no longer

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