(Quebec) Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party is accused of 52 charges related to possible violations of electoral law in the October 2022 general elections.
Published at 12:20 p.m.
In total, the Director General of Elections (DGE) has filed 78 charges against nine political parties for violations of their election posters.
He says he has received more than 300 complaints regarding the location of certain election signs or the way they are displayed, compared to about fifty in 2018.
According to the DGE, the evidence collected indicates that “numerous posters were placed in such a way that they obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic” and endanger public safety.
In addition, “certain posters were placed on bridges, on trees, on viaducts and on electricity poles,” in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Code, he said in a press release on Thursday.
The DGE claims to have intervened with the affected political parties to ask them to comply with the rules. This is the first time he has prosecuted election poster violations.
The institution “hopes that this decision will have a deterrent effect and encourage political parties to play by the rules in the next provincial elections.”
The minimum fine provided for in the election law is $500 per violation.
Of all the parties, it is the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) that has committed the most violations; He faces 52 charges.
François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) faces seven charges, Québec Solidaire (QS) faces six charges, the Parti Québécois (PQ) four, the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ) three and the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ). two.
The Montreal bloc of Balarama Holness and Party 51 could also be sanctioned.
When the DGE serves a judgment on a political party, it has 30 days to plead guilty to the alleged crime or not. If he pleads guilty, he must pay the fine set by the DGE.
If he does not file an objection, pleads not guilty or denies the fine requested, the file will be sent to the Quebec court for a trial and the court to determine the fine, explains the DGE.