PQ under Jean-Franois Lise similar to European far-right, Philippe Couillard says

Quebec's premier congratulated newPartiQubcoisLeaderJean-FranoisLise on Saturday, but not before linking him to Europe's far-right and suggesting he was bad for humanity.

Speaking during a visit to Iceland, Premier Philippe Couillard said that the PQ under Lisebore a "family resemblance" to the populist anti-immigrant parties that have had varying degrees of success in places like Britain, France and Germany.

Couillard was making reference to elements of Lise's campaign for the PQ leadership that dealt with immigration and identity issues.

• Parti Qubcois elects Jean-Franois Lise as new leader

During his campaignLiseproposed banning the burka in public, criticized a rival for wishing Muslims well on a religious holiday and expressed concerns that Quebec's immigration levels were too high.

"His narrative is one of a beleaguered nationalism, a nationalism of fear, of people who don'twant to confront diversity, who prefer that Quebec remains closed in on itself," Couillard told reporters on Saturday.

"That's what we're seeing elsewhere in the world."

Couillard added that this represented "a movement that is inherently negative for humanity."

• Jean-Franois Lise, a look at the newParti Qubcois leader

Also, congratulations

Shortly after offering his comments on the PQ's new leader, the premier tweetedalong with Quebec's other political leaders in congratulating Lise on his win.

"I invite him to collaborate, in a environment of respect, in the interests of Quebec," Couillard wrote.

Lise spent several minutes of his victory speech on Friday night attacking Couillard'sgovernment over budget cuts and its handling of ethical scandals.

He made a direct appeal toLiberals voters, inviting them to vote for the PQ in order to get rid of what he called one of the worst governments in recent memory.

"There is no shame in being ashamed of a shameful government,"Lisesaid.

The new PQ leader is not expected to address the media before Thursday.

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