Premier Jean Charest announced Tuesday there will be a public inquiry into how judges are chosen in Quebec, after a former justice minister claimed Liberal fundraisers exercised undue influence over judicial appointments.

"I think it's important that we be able to address this issue of the integrity of the justice system in Quebec," the premier told a news conference. "I want to get to the bottom of this."

The move came one day after former justice minister Marc Bellemare said he was pressured on three separate occasions to appoint a judge at the request of Liberal donors. He also alleged that Charest was aware of the practice.

Charest strongly denied the allegations and said he would be sending a letter to his ex-minister's lawyer demanding an apology and a retraction.

But Charest said his main concern was the allegations against the judicial system, not his personal differences with Bellemare.

"It ain't about me," Charest said. "Yes, I will ask Mr. Bellemare to retract and I'll determine how we'll deal with that later, but that's not my priority."

Bellemare alleged he confronted the premier twice, in the fall of 2003 and the spring in 2004, about pressure from donors to make certain appointments.

He did not name the judges he allegedly appointed against his will.

Bellemare also alleged that money was handed over by construction company bosses into the Liberal party's coffers.

Corruption allegations have swirled about Quebec's construction industry over the past several months.

Bellemare said that fundraising practices he witnessed were "irregular," and charged that Quebec Liberals even let bills dies at the request of fundraisers.

According to a provincial law introduced by the Parti Quebecois in 1970s, donations made as part of election fundraising drives must be limited to $3,000.

Charest did not ask for an investigation pertaining to Bellemare's allegations of financing irregularities.

The premier said he has no idea why Bellemare would make such allegations, and Bellemare has not responded to Charest's threat of legal action.

Charest's popularity has dropped in recent months due to an unpopular budget and purported ethics violations.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in recent days to protest tax hikes in the budget.

With files from The Canadian Press