Prime Minister François Legault asked the Sûreté du Québec to “be available to all candidates who feel threatened,” starting with Liberal Marwah Rizqy, who has been the target of death threats.
“All my thoughts are with her. We cannot accept this kind of threat in our society, ”he said on the sidelines of an election announcement in Trois-Rivières Thursday morning.
The head of government finds it hard to understand that the member for Saint-Laurent, and candidate for his own succession, received advice to stay safe in his home from the security forces. “I would like her to speak with the SQ and that they agree together on the most appropriate measures,” said Mr. Legault in a conference room under heavy police surveillance.
He said “wish [er que Mme Rizqy] participate effectively in the campaign, in the important democratic debates that we […] will continue to have over the next four weeks.
The leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) invited all candidates “who feel particularly threatened” to also seek help from the Sûreté du Québec.
He took care to mention to the press that he felt “safe”. “I would like that to be the case for all candidates. »
Exit the “war words”?
In his eyes, the leaders, candidates and supporters of each of the political parties “all have a responsibility not to stir up anger”, to be “prudent”, by refraining from making “warlike” speeches, for example. , during the election campaign. “To see such threats [comme celles faites à l’encontre de Mme Rizqy]it seems to me that it is not Quebec that we like, ”he argued.
Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois pledged to “lead by example”. “I will not point the finger at anyone,” said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois at a press conference in New Richmond, Gaspésie. “But at the same time, I see ideas circulating in Quebec that scare the crap out of me,” he continued.
In May, a candidate for the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), Ernesto Almeida, shared in the days following the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a publication referring to the arming of teachers. “I don’t like to see candidates say that we should put weapons in schools,” argued Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. “I don’t want Quebec to become the United States. »
The SQ explains itself
The safety of elected officials and candidates is not the sole concern of a police force, specifies the Sûreté du Québec. “Our mandate is really to ensure the Prime Minister’s security. […] In the electoral context, we are continuing our collaboration with the Ministère de la Sécurité publique, to [garantir] the safety of leaders. Then, we are always attentive and vigilant with regard to and surrounds the other parties also participating in this electoral campaign, ”explained the spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec Catherine Bernard in an exchange with The duty.
“We don’t elaborate on how we establish security… for obviously security issues,” she added.
Further details will follow.
With François Carabin and Dave Noël