Mariette Fugère, the wife of Mr. Charest’s Parti Québécois opponent in Sherbrooke, and the president of a nearby riding association, posted a crude drawing on Facebook of Mr. Charest about to be beheaded, with the caption: "End of reign."
If the caricature of Jean Charest being guillotined by a ballot was meant as a joke, the Liberal Leader isn't taking it that way.
Mariette Fugère, the wife of Mr. Charest's Parti Québécois opponent in Sherbrooke, and the president of a nearby riding association, posted the crude drawing of Mr. Charest about to be beheaded, with the caption: "End of reign," to her Facebook page.
"Here is the desire I'm hoping for," Ms. Fugère commented on her page Friday.
Ms. Fugère quickly apologized on local radio but Mr. Charest made unusual impromptu comments to the reporters following him to condemn the act and say he felt he was under personal attack.
"I didn't think the PQ could be so low. I'll be interested to see the reaction and commentary of Madame Marois and my opponent, (Serge) Cardin," Mr. Charest said.
In her radio apology, Ms. Fugère admitted the caricature was "in poor taste."
Mr. Charest has been an immovable object in Sherbrooke at both the federal and provincial levels for nearly three decades. He's trailing in local polls and has made frequent visits to the riding in his attempt to hold on.
Les Perreaux