(Quebec) The storm rocking the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) does not seem to want to calm down.
It is the turn of the member for Viau, Frantz Benjamin, to threaten to slam the door of the Liberal caucus, according to what The Canadian Press learned Monday evening.
Furious, Mr. Benjamin says he cannot accept losing part of his post as 3e vice-president of the National Assembly, that the former leader, Dominique Anglade, had offered him, and that the new interim leader, Marc Tanguay, had confirmed to him in recent days.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Benjamin said that under the circumstances he was beginning to reflect on his political future.
“I have built my political career on three principles: respect, integrity and respect for one’s word,” commented the MNA, after learning that Mr. Tanguay had offered the MNA for Vaudreuil, Marie-Claude Nichols, to hold the post of 3e Vice-President of the National Assembly for half of the mandate, with the aim of rejoining the Liberal caucus. The latter would have accepted, according to the information obtained. The other half, two years, would go to Mr. Benjamin.
However, according to a source within the Liberal deputation, Mr. Tanguay’s decision, consisting in slicing the pear in two, while trying to satisfy the two deputies in order to bring peace to the troops, had the exact opposite effect. . This set fire to the powder in an already divided caucus.
The decision could therefore in the coming days bring a member back into the caucus and scare away another.
Mr. Tanguay spoke with Mr.me Nichols on Sunday with a view to finding a way through to allow him to return to the Liberal clan.
It should be recalled that when the shadow cabinet was formed at the end of October, Mme Nichols had expressed the wish to obtain the post of Vice-President of the National Assembly reserved for the Official Opposition. However, Mr. Benjamin was also in the ranks and Mrs.me Anglade had ruled in his favour.
Seeing this, M.me Nichols refused any other job offers and she was immediately expelled from the Liberal caucus.
Faced with the ensuing outcry, Ms.me Anglade had tried to reconsider his decision by asking Mme Nichols to come home. But the damage was done and the trust broken. She had decided to sit as an independent.
The Liberals are holding a pre-sessional caucus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Red Chamber of Parliament.
In principle, the way is now clear for Mme Nichols returns to the caucus, unless a new twist arises.