Jean Charest, (born John James Charest; pronounced [??~ ????]; born June 24, 1958) is a Canadian politician who served as the 29th premier of Quebec, from 2003 to 2012; the deputy prime minister of Canada from June 25, 1993, until November 4, 1993; the leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998; and the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party from 1998 to 2012.
He became Premier after winning the 2003 election; after he lost the 2012 election he announced that he would be resigning as Quebec Liberal Leader and leaving politics.
Charest sits as an advisor to Canada's Ecofiscal Commission.