The constituency office of outgoing MP for Marquette, Enrico Ciccone, was vandalized and then robbed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in Lachine. An investigation was opened by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the event occurring only a few days after the elected official had received threats by telephone.
Posted at 1:24 p.m.
A press release must be issued by the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), later Wednesday. According to our information, several computers were stolen, and lockable filing cabinets were smashed in order to be opened. Confidential material concerning employees or voters could therefore potentially have been stolen.
In the early afternoon, Mr. Ciccone met with SQ investigators to take stock of the situation.
It is that only a few days ago, a man had left a message containing “threatening” remarks against the MP, on the voicemail of his constituency office. The police will therefore assess whether these two cases could be linked, but nothing is certain in this direction for the moment.
Since Sunday, several candidates – all parties combined – have denounced loud and clear that their signs had been victims of vandalism. This is the case of the caquiste Caroline St-Hilaire, who notably denounced online that “vandalizing an electoral sign is vandalizing the democratic spirit”.
“In addition to a sign vandalized last night, there are signs placed over mine to hide them or just torn off. Not strong, ”also mentioned the outgoing MP for Lotbinière-Frontenac, Isabelle Lecours, whose face was cut out of a sign. Several other displays have already been modified, vandalized or downright torn since this Sunday across Quebec.
Furthermore, The Press reported on Tuesday that security around party leaders is more visible than in previous elections, a sign that authorities are well aware of the risk of spillover. Bulletproof vests were even distributed.
“I was introduced to bulletproof vests. For the Parti Québécois, this is a sensitive issue, we will soon be celebrating the 10e anniversary of the election of Pauline Marois, our first prime minister,” PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said on Monday, recalling the attack on Ms.me Marois occurred in Metropolis on election night in 2012, an attack that left one dead and one injured.
“As an elected official, I have noticed a significant increase in threats of all types in the last two, three years. When I speak to my fellow MNAs, whether they are in solidarity or not, everyone has noticed the same thing,” also slipped the solidarity co-spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who is surrounded by much more imposing security than during from the last campaign.