Jean Charest

Jean Charest is a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012.

Jean Charest is a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012. He was also leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and earlier held federal cabinet and party-leadership roles in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

Early life and education

Jean Charest was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1958. He studied law at the Université de Sherbrooke, was called to the Quebec Bar in 1981, and began his career in law before entering politics.

Federal political career

Charest was elected to the House of Commons in 1984 as a Progressive Conservative MP. He served as a federal cabinet minister and was the youngest cabinet minister in Canadian history at the time of his appointment. He led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998.

Quebec Liberal leadership and premiership

In 1998, Charest became leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and leader of the Official Opposition. He became premier after the Liberals won the 2003 Quebec election and remained in office until his resignation in 2012 after the Liberals lost that year’s provincial election.

Later career

After leaving Quebec provincial politics, Charest returned to public life in other roles, including work in the private sector. He has remained a prominent figure in Canadian political and public affairs.