Quebec Liberals hold back on lawsuit against PQ leader—for now
The PLQ gave Paul St-Pierre Plamondon 72 hours to retract accusations linking them to organized crime; he refused.
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The Quebec Liberal Party is not pursuing immediate legal action against Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon over his allegations linking the PLQ to organized crime — but hasn't ruled it out.
On Sunday, the Liberals sent a formal notice to St-Pierre Plamondon, giving him 72 hours to retract his remarks and issue a formal apology. He flatly rejected the request.
"The 72-hour deadline we set for him to retract his remarks has now expired. I sincerely believed he would do so," wrote Liberal Leader Charles Milliard on X Thursday. "That said, that deadline was his own. As far as we are concerned, we are not bound by it. Consequently, the PLQ reserves all its rights, including the right to take legal action. Discussions to this effect are ongoing."
At a press conference last week, St-Pierre Plamondon alleged: "Fundraising has taken place that is clearly illegal, and these are activities involving dozens of people. Links have been established with an MNA. Are there links to organized crime? What we know for certain is that a fundraising event to set up a slush fund did take place."
Milliard responded that the PQ leader's remarks were "unacceptable," "false," and went "beyond the bounds of healthy political debate in Quebec."