(Quebec) The posture of PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who wants to hold a referendum on the independence of Quebec quickly in a first mandate, is the most radical ever seen, believes Éric Duhaime.
The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) reacted Monday to the speech given the day before by Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon to some 500 members of the Parti Québécois (PQ).
Convinced of being able to form the next government in 2026, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon declared that he was “certain” that Quebec will experience a third referendum before the end of the decade.
He suggested that this referendum will be the final meeting to avoid the disappearance of the Quebec people, because the “federal regime” only knows how to “crush those who refuse to assimilate”.
The PQ leader’s very assertive speech provokes strong reactions from his adversaries, who point out that support for sovereignty remains below 40%.
This is certainly the most radical political positioning of the PQ that we have seen in our lifetime, in terms of the fact that they will hold a referendum absolutely from the start of their mandate.
Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec
On Sunday, the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Marc Tanguay, made similar remarks, affirming that Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is “by far the most radical leader of the PQ.”
Mr. Tanguay accused Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon of “banking on fear to promote his independence option”.
However, Mr. Duhaime believes that “more [M. St-Pierre Plamondon] will lay his cards on the table, the more he goes into detail, the more Quebecers will know that they should not vote for the PQ.”
PHOTO KAROLINE BOUCHER, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Éric Duhaime
“He said it was a certainty that there would be a referendum before 2030. There is no certainty. All it takes is for Quebecers to say no to the PQ in the next election and then there will be none. »
Mr. Duhaime also refused the outstretched hand of the PQ leader, who in his speech invited citizens of all political orientations — even the right — to join him in achieving independence.
Not only does Éric Duhaime say he has no appetite for sovereignty, he considers it essential that we continue to debate health, education and public finances as a priority in Quebec.
“We will continue to say: “No thank you” to the hand extended by Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon,” he declared.