Internal changes follow one another in the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ). Its former chief executive Raffael Cavaliere left the organization in March amid high tensions, it has been learned The duty.
The case ended in an agreement whose content is confidential, said party spokesman Cédric Lapointe. Information confirmed by Mr. Cavaliere, who indicates that the two parties did not separate on good terms.
Since the election, Mr. Cavaliere has been the target of repeated criticism from the more libertarian fringe of the party, who accused him of promoting nationalist ideas. Some had also questioned his work at the operational level during the campaign.
Cavaliere, a computer programmer and musician from the greater Montreal area, joined Éric Duhaime’s party in response to health measures, particularly in schools. In 2021, he co-founded the Parents Québec collective, which denounced the wearing of compulsory masks for children in schools.
As CEO, he was one of the pillars of the organization during its period of growth in 2021 and 2022, then played an operational role during the campaign.
A few months after the election, in January, he was replaced by Louise Soucy, a manager in the food and health sectors in the Montmagny region.
This change had been justified by the party as a way, in particular, to “professionalize” the organization. Mr. Cavaliere had welcomed this appointment and had remained in the organization, in a secondary role.
His departure adds to a series of desertions and replacements in the organization since the campaign. Six members of the executive board were replaced in December 2022.
Eric Tetrault at the PCQ despite his history
Another change: a newcomer has entered the executive office in the person of Eric Tetrault, who becomes chairman of the communications commission. In recent years, Mr. Tetrault has worked as CEO of the Quebec Energy Association, which represents oil and gas companies, a position he still holds.
However, this is not his first steps in politics, since he had tried to be elected for the Liberal Party in 2017, in the riding of Louis-Hébert. However, he had to withdraw his candidacy after The Press revealed that he had been the subject of several complaints for psychological harassment at ArcelorMittal, where he was director of communications.
At the time, the Conservative Party had publicly called for the withdrawal of its candidacy in Louis-Hébert. “This behavior is simply unacceptable and intolerable,” PCQ leader Adrien Pouliot said in a statement. “The Prime Minister must launch a public call so that the other victims, if there are any, do not hesitate to come out of the shadows. »
Asked about this apparent contradiction, the PCQ declined to comment.
His spokesman, Cédric Lapointe, however, indicated that Mr. Tetrault was appointed on April 17 to the communications commission and that the position was vacant before that.
As a representative of the Energy Association, Mr. Tetrault actively promoted GNL-Québec in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, a project also ardently defended by the PCQ and its leader during the campaign.
Mr. Tetrault was also director of communications in the office of Premier Jean Charest from 2008 to 2010.