Solidarity MP Haroun Bouazzi agrees that his positions on the emergence of racism in the National Assembly may have caused discomfort “in form”, but refuses to back down on substance. “Disagreeing” with his comments, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois does not, however, ask him to mend his ways.
In a long interview given to - radio on Friday morning, the member for Maurice-Richard did not give in to the multiple demands for apologies made the day before by the entire political class.
Even if he admits that “in terms of form, there can be [eu] discomfort”, the elected representative of Québec solidaire (QS) persists and signs: the central idea of his speech given at the beginning of the month to the members of an organization representing the Maghreb community still holds, he said. supported Friday. “There are mechanisms that create the Other as someone dangerous and […] I see this on a daily basis,” he said, claiming to want to do “pedagogy”.
In an extract from his speech which was first noted in a column in the Quebec Journal, MP Bouazzi suggests that debates in the National Assembly “every day” encourage the emergence of racist and discriminatory speeches against ethnic and religious minorities.
“We unfortunately see – and God knows I see this in the National Assembly every day – the construction of this Other. Of this Other, who is North African, who is Muslim, who is black, who is indigenous, and of his culture which, by definition, would be dangerous or inferior”, we can hear him say in the context of this event of the Club Avenir Foundation.
“Polarizing” speech
On Facebook, Thursday evening, the former spokesperson for Québec solidaire Amir Khadir wanted to support Mr. Bouazzi. “Haroun is right,” he wrote in a comment left under the video of the speech. “If this shocks some people, it is because, unfortunately, it is true. »
On Thursday and Friday, several members of the political class had, on the contrary, publicly denounced Mr. Bouazzi’s remarks, maintaining for example that they cast “immense discredit” on the National Assembly (Marwah Rizqy, Liberal Party of Quebec), that they constituted a “false trial” (Pascal Bérubé, Parti Québécois) or that they “exceeded[ai]ent the limits” (Lionel Carmant, Coalition Avenir Québec).
In interview with DutyThursday, the solidarity co-spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, for his part criticized his MP for his “polarizing” speech on racism and discrimination.
“I have often said in recent years that, in debates on immigration and inclusion, we must stay away from any polarization. It’s a call that applies to our adversaries, but it also applies to our team, to those in solidarity,” he said. According to the MP and future co-spokesperson of QS, Ruba Ghazal, Haroun Bouazzi made “clumsy” allusions[e]s” and “exaggerated[e]s ».
At the dawn of a congress of Quebec Solidaire members, Haroun Bouazzi said he “respected” Friday the opinion of his fellow Solidaire deputies. “Basically, we agree on all kinds of points,” he said.
According to him, however, the demonstration of racism in political discourse no longer needs to be done. Just in the last few days, he noted, the minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, attributed part of the problem in youth protection to the increase in immigration. “Mr. [Christian] Dubé [ministre de la Santé] being asked about the ever-growing waiting lists […] and he says: it’s the immigrants’ fault,” he added.
“And I’m not talking to you about the former Minister of Immigration [Jean Boulet] — who is still in the Council of Ministers today — who gives us [avait] said that 80% of immigrants do not work, do not speak French,” he said. “It contributes to creating the Other as a danger. »
QS “must act,” says Jolin-Barrette
According to the Minister of Justice and parliamentary leader of the government in the National Assembly, Simon Jolin-Barrette, Québec solidaire “cannot condone this type of statement within its caucus.” “By insulting the elected representatives of the National Assembly, he is insulting all Quebecers. [Ruba Ghazal et Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois] must act,” he wrote on the social network
During a short press briefing held in Montreal on Friday evening, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois did not ask for an apology from Mr. Bouazzi. “ [Il] is master of his words. I stated my disagreement with these comments,” he underlined, before specifying that no discussion had taken place concerning a possible expulsion from the solidarity caucus.
On the eve of the QS congress, Ruba Ghazal wanted to dot the i’s, in an interview in the offices of the Duty.
“I have also been criticizing the way the discourse on immigration is held for a long time. Sometimes it’s negative, sometimes we have the impression that we’re saying that everything is the fault of immigrants. These are things that we have already said several times,” she said. “After that, what is important is that [nos] discourse, we do not hold them by dividing, but by trying to bring together. »
According to Mr. Nadeau-Dubois, the weekend will be an opportunity for activists to discuss Québec Solidaire’s position on the issue. “What we are witnessing in the last hours is a debate on the best way to approach these issues. These are debates that will continue,” he stressed.
Noting that MP Bouazzi’s constituency office had to temporarily close after receiving a “surge of hateful and violent messages” in the last few hours, the supportive elected official launched a “call for calm”. “It’s normal in a democracy for politicians to criticize the statements of other politicians,” he said. “But we have to do it while ensuring that it remains peaceful. »
The Québec solidaire congress continues Saturday and Sunday.
