PQ Leader Jean-Franois Lise strikes back at Couillard for far-right comments

PartiQubcoisLeaderJean-FranoisLise is firing back against comments Premier Philippe Couillard made Saturday, which linked the newly minted party leader with Europe's far-right.

Lise's campaignplatform in the leadership included a proposal to ban theburkain public. In his first public comments since his victory onFriday,Lise defended that proposal,saying "like in Europe, we will have a discussion about the veil in public.

"It seems to me that this is reasonable," he added.

Lise said Tuesday that he expects the premier of Quebec to set a good example when it comes to respectful, democratic debate.

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"For the premier to act in this way, to disqualify debate and reasonable suggestions, it's not only to me that he's saying thishe's saying this to the overwhelming majority ofQuebecerswho think we should discuss these things without being accused of being part of the extreme right,"Lisetold reporters.

Couillard made the comments about Lise during a weekend visit to Iceland, where he criticized the PQ leader for upholding a "beleaguered nationalism, a nationalism of fear."

Lisesaidhe expects the premier to be more tolerant of the views put forward by members of the National Assembly inthefuture.

"It's not because we don't agree with him that we suddenly become part of a European populist party," Lise said.

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