THREE-RIVERS | Deeming it “really unacceptable” that deputies have been the target of acts of violence, François Legault called on the Sûreté du Québec so that the candidates could feel safe. At the same time, he asks the other leaders to avoid “stirring up anger”.
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Whether on social networks as on the ground, threats, “unfortunately, we see that it happens more often”, lamented the outgoing Prime Minister, reacting among other things to the bad experience experienced by the liberal Marwah Rizqy.
“I asked the Sûreté du Québec to be available for all candidates who feel threatened. I think it’s important, “said François Legault from the outset, before making his announcement of the day, in Mauricie.
“If there are candidates who feel threatened, (they) can contact the Sûreté du Québec,” he suggested, inviting Ms.me Rizqy to discuss again with the police.
“All my thoughts are with them,” said Mr. Legault. We can’t accept that in our society, that kind of threat. (…) I would like her to participate in the campaign, in the important, democratic debate that we are having, that we are going to have, that we will continue to have in the next four weeks.
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stir up anger
The CAQ leader took the opportunity to send a message to the leaders of the various parties, to their candidates, as well as to the population in general.
“I think we all have a responsibility not to stir up anger,” insisted the outgoing Prime Minister, trying once again to avoid targeting his opponents more directly.
During a visit to Beauce earlier this week, Mr. Legault accused Conservative leader Éric Duhaime of acting irresponsibly, recalling that he had already invited his activists to help him bring discontent to the Parliament.
The CAQ leader accuses him of using the discontent of those who have suffered the most from health measures “to try to win votes”.
Asked by a journalist if he himself had contributed to dividing Quebecers during his mandate, François Legault also targeted his liberal rival, Dominique Anglade, recalling that she had already accused him of creating divisions with his approach to defend the French language.
“You know, francophones know that French will always be vulnerable in Quebec and protecting French, I think there are governments that have done it less before us. I think that’s more what brings the division. I think there’s a kind of consensus in Quebec that French is the official language, that we want to preserve French for the future, and then I think it’s the responsibility of the Quebec government to act precisely to avoid divisions.”
Legault open to a law to regulate social networks
The caquist leader François Legault does not rule out legislating to better regulate social networks, from which, according to him, emanate slippages like the one of which his outgoing deputy for Chauveau and several other candidates have recently been victims.
“We can’t rule that out. This is a problem that is not unique to Quebec. We have to see … It is not easy to regulate social media, among other things, because often it starts there, ”said the outgoing Prime Minister, reacting to the complaint filed by the Caquist candidate in Chauveau, Sylvain Levesque.
After Liberal Enrico Ciccone’s riding office was vandalized, an individual repeated threats to his colleague Marwah Rizqy, a reproduction of Mr. Lévesque’s election poster dripping with blood began circulating on Twitter.
“I find it unfortunate. It has made it almost difficult to play politics, ”commented Mr. Legault, repeating his call for caution launched a little earlier.
“When you read what is written on social media, you have to have a whole shell, notes Mr. Legault. To see gestures like that… We saw it with Marwah Rizqy, death threats, placards with blood, listen… I am still appealing to everyone, to all Quebecers, to all citizens: Please be careful, avoid violence, avoid violence, avoid violent language. We need in Quebec, especially in an election campaign, to debate the substance. Not to attack each other and then not to see each other as enemies. We are adversaries on ideas.