A former Quebec Liberal justice minister has levelled explosive allegations against his party and its leader, claiming fundraisers exercised undue influence over judicial appointments.
In an interview with Quebec television station TVA on Monday, Marc Bellemare said he selected at least two people to become judges based on pressure from fundraisers. The appointments were made between the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004.
Fundraisers who had collected a lot of money for the party wanted people they knew to be appointed judges, Bellemare said. As a result, he had no choice but to choose candidates who he would otherwise have passed over.
What's more, Bellemare alleged that Charest was aware of the unethical practice.
Charest, who was returning from a political conference in Mississippi, fervently denied the charges Monday evening and threatened to sue the former minister.
None of the allegations against Charest or the Quebec Liberals have been proven in court.
Bellemare said he decided to come forward with the allegations after being contacted by the media. He would not name the judges he allegedly appointed against his will.
At least one provincial opposition party, Quebec solidaire, demanded that the government resign and hold an election if the accusations are shown to be true.
The premier's popularity has dropped dramatically over the past few months, partly because of purported ethics violations. The government also tabled an unpopular budget that included tax hikes, making matters worse.
In recent days, tens of thousands of protesters have been marching in the streets.
The provincial Liberals first ran into trouble after a scandal broke concerning alleged Mafia involvement in Montreal's construction industry, and the influence of that industry on the city's municipal government.
Charest has so far refused to launch a public inquiry into the matter, in spite of public appeals for one.
With a report from CTV's Genevieve Beauchemin and files from The Canadian Press
