Two of Pierre Karl Peladeau’s Parti Quebecois leadership rivals took aim at the media mogul frontrunner's possible conflicts of interest Saturday.
Longshot hopeful Pierre Céré asked about Peladeau’s motivations at a PQ affair attended by about 450 party members in Laval Saturday. “It’s not clear what he wants to do. He says that the people support him and there’s no problem. But no, Peladeau cannot continue like that,” he said.
Last fall Peladeau committed to put put his shares in a blind trust if he were to win the leadership but some in the PQ remain suspicious.
Céré suggested that Peladeau wanted to buy the party.
Peladeau, predictably, denied it.
“The PQ has never been for sale. Maybe he got his parties mixed up,” said Peladeau.
Leadership rival Bernard Drainville took a middle ground on Peladeau's dual role as media mogul and leadership hopeful.
“There’s a problem. Peladeau recognizes it and is proposing to fine a way to deal with it,” said Drainville.”I’ll take his word for it.”
Leadership candidate Martine Ouellet said that Peladeau needs to act swiftly to put his private business into a blind trust.
“He’ll have to make some decisions to ensure that he avoids all conflict of interest situations as a candidate as well as leader,” she said.
Ouellet, who was once a high-ranking employee at Hydro-Quebec, noted that she was forced to take an unpaid leave when she got into politics.
“I wasn’t in a conflict of interest situation but I accepted the rules,” she said.
A new poll published Saturday suggested that Peladeau has a massive lead over his rivals.
Peladeau has 63 percent support, followed by 10 percent for Martine Ouellet, nine for Alexandre Cloutier, seven for Drainville and one percent for Céré.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
