Hurt by teasing and derogatory comments about his physical appearance, CAQ contestant Victor Pelletier denounces the double standards faced by those of small stature and beyond the youngest.
• Also read Seat left vacant by Dominique Anglade: the Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne stage is triggered
“That’s enough,” said the flag bearer of the CAQ in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne.
Since the announcement of his candidacy, and in particular since the publication of a photo in which he can be seen next to François Legault in a slightly oversized jacket, he has been the subject of a flurry of insults on social media.
So much so that he had to turn off notifications on his phone when he saw the amount of “really free comments” targeted at him.
examples?
– “André Arthur Live du Paradis,” a parody impersonating the late and controversial Quebec radio host, wrote in a tweet: “Victor Pelletier: A little con man with crooked brown teeth.”
– Robert Roy, covers the “little balluster eater criss (sic)” CAQ candidate.
– “You like to put on the jacket of the big bunch of serious chefs, you look like a little escort (sic)”, posts anonymously the user “Om Shanti ** #TrudeauMustGo”.
“Behind the candidates are people,” Mr Pelletier recalled in a micromessage on Twitter on Saturday. “Attacking people’s bodies and looks is hurtful,” he added.
focus
A “clarification” is necessary, the 21-year-old candidate explained on Tuesday in an interview with our parliamentary office.
The day after publication (Sunday), another cartoon appeared, making fun of his slightly oversized jacket. The “trolls” returned it. “It’s a certain honor to have been in a Serge Chapleau cartoon, but hey, it was the performance once again,” said Mr Pelletier, denouncing “the chain reactions” that took place.
“I laughed about it the first day. […] I still have a good sense of humor, I can take it and I found it very funny and yes I should have picked a different jacket and god knows I did he confessed. But hey, after spending a day on this we could have moved on to another call.
- Listen to the interview with Victor Pelletier, the CAQ nominee for the Montreal Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne by-election, on QUB radio:
dual standard
“There might be other young people who see that, other people who might even be short in stature, and then they’re like, ‘Okay, maybe I wouldn’t be in my place going into politics because that’s how I’m going to get’ , worries the candidate, who has also been President of the CAQ Successor Commission since last autumn.
From the top of his 5ft 2in, Victor Pelletier sees “a double standard” towards taller people. “I would tell you that we simply go to the wringer.”
This double standard, “there’s one more for young people,” he added.
“It’s not the first time I’ve experienced this, but to this extent, yes,” he said.
He fears his story will discourage other young people from getting involved in politics or even voting directly. The CAQ candidate also believes “abstain” is the enemy to beat in this by-election.
Positive
As something bad is good, Victor Pelletier is delighted at the many encouraging messages he has received since his retirement on Saturday. He also held talks on this with his opponents from the other parties.
“They agree with me: yes, we’re on an election campaign, but we’re human beings and we don’t have to go there,” he summed up.
“I hope it will show that politics is not just that: it is also people who agree that there is a certain human decency in the countryside.”
If he observes an increase in hatred on social networks, especially since the pandemic, he is at least comforted by the fact that voters are treated with much more respect on the ground.
“I would tell you I don’t get the comments I get on social media on the pitch, which is very positive,” he said.
Do you have any information about this story that you would like to share with us?
Do you have a scoop that might be of interest to our readers?