The Coalition avenir Québec gave a first clear signal of electoral preparation, Monday, by inviting the media to reserve their place on its campaign caravan.
CAQ communications director Claude Potvin said the call, more than seven months before the ballot, was necessary.
“We want you to sign up to find out if we have one or two buses to book,” she said in an interview with the Homework. We will respect the electoral law. It’s really a matter of organization. »
The electoral law provides that the election is fixed for the beginning of October. In recent months, Premier François Legault has said he has no intention of rushing the vote.
According to the CAQ, the media have already begun to inquire about the cost of participation, which resulted in the sending of a press release on Monday morning asking the media to reserve their place, in order to have an accurate portrait of the needs.
Ms. Potvin brushed aside any intention to increase the pressure on her opponents. “There is no question of putting pressure on the opposition parties, it is a simple question of organization”, she assured.
The CAQ claims to have sent an identical request to the media in April 2018, in anticipation of the last campaign which brought the party to power in October of the same year.
The CAQ’s initiative has not gone unnoticed by the official opposition.
The director of communications for chef Dominique Anglade expressed his questions on social networks on Monday morning.
“Can’t wait to see how François Legault will explain this, wrote Jérémy Ghio on his Twitter feed. Why is there no date in Marie-Victorin? Why are journalists invited seven months in advance on the bus? Why campaign photos? Will the CAQ respect the date provided for by law? »
The government has still not announced a date for the by-election to be held in the riding of Marie-Victorin, free since the resignation of independent MP Catherine Fournier, after her election in November as mayor of Longueuil.
More details will follow.