MONTREAL – Accusations were flying at the National Assembly Wednesday as Quebec’s two minor opposition parties insisted the Liberals were refusing to reimburse what they call “dirty money.”
The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) referred to the millions of dollars that former Deputy Premier Nathalie Normandeau fundraised for the Liberals.
She was arrested Thursday on corruption charges.
READ MORE: ‘No one is above the law,’ Quebec City politicians react to Normandeau arrest
The opposition insisted the donations should be put in trust until she goes to court.
The CAQ and Québec Solidaire also accused Speaker of the House, Jacques Chagnon, of purposely trying to stifle the opposition during question period.
“I was surprised to see him getting up so fast. It looks like something was prepared,” said François Legault, CAQ leader.
“I hope it was not prepared with the Liberal government.”
READ MORE: Former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau arrested in anti-corruption sweep
“He has to base his very restrictive notion of the separation of powers on legal advice because in doing what he’s doing, it gives the impression there’s a political willingness to force the opposition to silence,” said Amir Khadir, Québec Solidaire MNA.
Normandeau and six other suspects are set to appear in Quebec City court next month.