Quebec police arrest man for allegedly making death threats against PQ leader

Parti Qubcois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says a man who sent him an email that threatened him and his family has been arrested.

An emotional St-Pierre Plamondonsaid the man in his forties was arrested on March 8, four days after the email landed.

The office of Public Security Minister Franois Bonnardel released a written statement Friday that said "no one should be the victim of intimidation or be the target of threats in 2024. The SQ is leading the investigation and has our full confidence."

Politicians from other parties said they stood by Plamondon, who is 47 and thefather of three young children, and that threats and the intimidation of politicians has to stop.

"We cannot, in a democracy, run for office to represent people when we feel like we have a target painted on our backs," said Qubec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal. "There are all sorts of [legitimate]ways to express one's discontent in society. Violence and death threats are not some of them."

Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy, who faced death threats while she was pregnant and campaigning in 2022, said her heart goes out to St-Pierre Plamondon.

"No elected official should have to live through this," said Rizqy. "I especially feel for his wife and their three children."