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François Legault will face a first popularity test of his premiership in Monday’s byelection in Roberval.

All parties will be dealing with the challenge of convincing the riding’s voters to show up in the winter just two months after they elected former premier Philippe Couillard as their MNA.

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Low voter turnout is therefore expected in this contest, which is seen as a faceoff between the Coalition Avenir Québec and the Quebec Liberal Party. Seven candidates are running in the byelection.

For Legault’s CAQ, a win in this Liberal riding would add a 75th seat to his majority caucus in the National Assembly.

This time, the CAQ has the advantage of being in power and can encourage voters to side with the government, which makes decisions and grants subsidies.

The Liberals, meanwhile, will attempt to retain the riding by noting how its voters were well-served by former premier Philippe Couillard, who resigned after his party was swept out of office. He easily won his riding with 42.4 per cent of the vote in October.