the president of the national assembly is fifth in the quebec order of precedence, after the queen of canada, the lieutenant governor of quebec, the premier, and the deputy premier. he or she is elected by his colleagues at the beginning of a legislature, for the length of the legislature. the president is assisted by the vice presidents of the assembly, who can also replace him or her in his or her absence. parti québécois member of the national assembly (mna) louise harel made history by being appointed as the first female president on march 12, 2002. the current president of the assembly is the caq mna françois paradis.