Charest’s accuser grilled at inquiry

Former Quebec Justice Minister Marc Bellemare has accused Premier Jean Charest of interfering with judicial appointments.

Testifying at an inquiry that could topple Quebec’s Liberal government and ruin Jean Charest’s political career, Marc Bellemare made bombshell allegations last week. But yesterday he seemed much more conciliatory as he faced cross-examination for the first time. Bellemare accuses Charest of pressuring him to appoint judges with Liberal links in 2003, but his credibility has come under scrutiny because he went ahead with the appointments and didn’t publicize the allegations until now. When asked at the inquiry if he understood that as attorney general he had final say over appointments and had an obligation to resist political pressure he replied “Everything was new for me,” and several times looked down at his hands, giving only one word answers.