Parizeau lashes back at PQ young

The turmoil within the Parti Québécois appeared to deepen Tuesday, with an older statesmen duelling with some younger members of the party.

Former Quebec premier and PQ legend Jacques Parizeau has addressed an open letter published in Tuesday's Le Devoir newspaper to the young members of the PQ, saying he will not keep his opinions to himself.

Over the weekend, a group of 12 young MNAs wrote a letter to Parizeau entitled "Monsieur Parizeau, have faith in us." That letter asked the former premier to allow the younger members of the PQ to take the lead on the issue of sovereignty.

Parizeau writes in response: "After all the [mess], you're asking me, basically, to shut up! How could you believe for a second that I would comply?"

He continues, saying that he doesn't often intervene in public and he doesn't "abuse [his] right to express himself, but that right is important to [him]."

Parizeau, who turns 81 this summer, said the letter written by younger members of the PQ is an attempt to obstruct what he says is at the heart of the crisis gripping the party: the freedom and right to speak one's mind.

Internal unrest has been rocking the PQ for more than a week, with four members of leader Pauline Marois' caucus quitting in protest, including Parizeau's wife, Lisette Lapointe.

The departing members pointed to the way the party was run by Marois, as well as a controversial bill to protect Quebec City from future lawsuits over an arena management deal as the reasons for their surprise resignations.

Bill 204 has now been iced, and the legislation will be revisited in the fall.

The revolt within the party happened less than two months after Marois received a resounding endorsement  from her caucus, with 93.1 per cent support in a confidence vote.

Parizeau also directed criticism at Marois during a speech in Montreal on June 11, saying Marois was not doing enough to promote the PQ's ultimate goal: separatism.