In fact, it is rather his intimate relationship kept secret with a former member and grants awarded to community organizations that explain his departure.
This fake news linking her to Pfizer has been running on Facebook and Twitter since Ms Berejiklian announced her resignation on October 1. Les Décrypteurs were able to list tweets in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Polish, Italian and Greek on the subject.
On Facebook, the publication of a Quebec Internet user accompanied by the description What a surprise
had been shared over 12,000 times in less than 24 hours. I look forward to Canada too and the death penalty for its dirty [sic
], can we read in the comments section.
The most popular Facebook post on the subject in Quebec
Photo : Facebook
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This shows a screenshot of a Twitter account, which itself appears to be quoting an article from the Figaro dealing with the resignation of Ms Berejikliann. However, when reading the article in question (New window), there is no mention of Pfizer bribes anywhere.
Well-known figures in the movement against health measures in Quebec, including André Pitre, also spread the false news.
The influencer against sanitary measures André Pitre also shared the fake news on Twitter.
Photo : Twitter
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Other publications falsely claim that Ms Berejiklian received tens of millions of dollars from pharmaceutical AstraZeneca. Sometimes the $ 65 million comes up, but again, this is false information.
It’s hard to know exactly where this number came from, but at least of them (New window) tweets (New window) published by Australians on October 2 seem to misinterpret information conveyed by a supposed alert launcher
claiming that the Australian government has awarded $ 65 million in grants to vaccine researchers. The tweets in question were not widely shared, however.
Otherwise, Australian far-right businessman and MP Clive Palmer, well known for his anti-vaccine stances (New window) and its tendency to spread disinformation about COVID-19 (New window), a publicly accused Gladys Berejiklian (New window) to receive tens of millions of dollars from Pfizer and AstraZeneca to promote the vaccine in September. These accusations were unfounded, but that did not prevent some Australian internet users (New window) to link Ms. Berejiklian’s resignation to Mr. Palmer’s statements.
What is Gladys Berejiklian accused of?
No charges have yet been brought against the resigning NSW premier. The investigation of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) which targets it (New window) seeks to determine whether it placed itself in various conflict of interest situations between 2012 and 2018.
Gladys Berejiklian resigned on October 1.
Photo : Getty Images / Pool
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In particular, the Commission wants to know if his secret intimate relationship with MP Daryl Maguire, himself accused of corruption (New window), constituted or involved a breach of public trust […] in circumstances where she was in a situation of conflict between her public duties and her private interest as a person having a personal relationship
.
The organization alleges, among other things, that Ms. Berejiklian would have favored Mr. Maguire in the award of several grants. Other grants are also mentioned in the ICAC press release. (New window).
The politician firmly denies the allegations. I categorically state that I have always acted with the highest level of integrity
, she said at a press conference last week (New window).
