PQ leader doesn’t want to swear allegiance to King Charles III
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Parti Québécois Chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned Tuesday he didn’t need to swear an oath to King Charles III, however the newly elected member wouldn’t say what he would do if his formal request to the legislature is rejected.
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Earlier than they’ll take their seats within the legislature, members are required to swear an oath to the British Crown and to the Quebec individuals.
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St-Pierre Plamondon, who’s scheduled to be sworn into workplace on Oct. 21, says he has formally requested that he be allowed to take a seat after taking an oath solely to the individuals of Quebec.
“It’s a battle of curiosity that your first act, your first significant gesture is to take an oath towards the inhabitants that elected you and concurrently take an oath to the Crown of a international nation,” St-Pierre Plamondon advised reporters Tuesday in Montreal.
“It’s clearly a battle of curiosity: you’ll be able to’t serve two masters on the similar time.”
St-Pierre Plamondon, who received his seat within the Montreal driving of Camille-Laurin on Oct. 3, mentioned a number of occasions throughout the marketing campaign that he wouldn’t take an oath to a international crown. He repeated Tuesday that he wouldn’t betray an enterprise he made to Quebec voters.
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The PQ elected three members to the legislature. St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned the 2 different members of the PQ caucus — Pascal Berube and Joel Arseneau — will be a part of him in refusing to swear an oath to the Crown.
However the PQ chief was evasive about what he’ll do if his formal request to the legislature is denied, including that he’ll take issues one step at a time. In the meantime, he mentioned he has authorized opinions that reveal the legislature isn’t obliged to take motion in opposition to elected officers who refuse to take an oath to the King.
“I don’t see within the present authorized framework of the (legislature) any obligation … to take measures or to stop me from doing my job as an elected member,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned.
In 2018, PQ members reportedly took the oath to Queen Elizabeth II however added the phrases “till Quebec is impartial.”
That very same yr, Quebec solidaire members — who’re additionally sovereignists — took the oath behind closed doorways with out cameras current.
St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned he doesn’t need to take an oath “in secret.” He acknowledged, nonetheless, that the oath of workplace isn’t probably the most urgent challenge for Quebecers, however he mentioned his place is about his convictions.
“The absurdity of this ritual has gone on lengthy sufficient,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned.
