Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez Resigns

Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez announced his resignation today just six months after winning the party’s leadership race.

Rodriguez announced his decision to the Liberal caucus during a virtual meeting this afternoon, a member of the legislature present at the meeting has confirmed. Rodriguez is expected to announce his decision publicly on Dec. 18.

Rodriguez stepped down following a loss of confidence from his caucus after several controversies emerged, including claims of cash-for-votes during his leadership campaign.

The news comes days after Quebec’s anti-corruption police launched a criminal investigation of the provincial party. A spokesperson for the Unité Permanente Anticorruption (UPAC) confirmed the investigation on Dec. 10, but said no further comment would be made at this time.

The anti-corruption police said last month it was actively working to confirm allegations of improper conduct before making a decision on whether to launch an official inquiry.

The news led some party members to publicly demand that Rodriguez step down, stating that the ongoing crisis has harmed the Liberals’ chances in the election next fall.

Rodriguez said last week he planned to remain in office and maintained that he could still be victorious in the next provincial election.

“I was elected by the party members because they know I have the experience to beat the (governing Coalition Avenir Québec) and beat the Parti Québécois,” he told reporters on Dec. 11. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Rodriguez is a former federal MP and cabinet minister under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He left the federal Liberal caucus in September 2024 to prepare for his move to provincial politics.

Rodriguez won the provincial Liberal leadership race in June with 52.3 percent in the second round of voting.

Party Turmoil

Turmoil erupted in the Liberal caucus last month after former parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy dismissed her chief of staff Geneviève Hinse, a close associate of Rodriguez, without consulting him. He later dismissed Rizqy from her position as parliamentary leader and expelled her from the caucus, saying she had not explained her reasons to him and that she lacked loyalty.

Rizqy was originally chosen to serve as the party’s leader in the national assembly until the 2026 general election because Rodriguez does not occupy a seat.

Rizqy announced in a Facebook post on Dec.17 that she has no intention of running for leadership of the party now that Rodriguez has resigned.

“I would like to strongly reiterate that I did not have this intention, that I do not have it today, and that I will not have it in the coming weeks and/or months,” she wrote on Facebook.

Text Messages and Alleged Payments

Le Journal de Montréal published an article shortly after Rizqy dismissed Hinse, which contained text messages suggesting some party members were paid $100 each to back Rodriguez in this year’s leadership contest. It’s unclear whether Hinse’s dismissal is connected to the issue.

The practice of making a donation in exchange for a vote was not illegal at the time, but the National Assembly closed the loophole by unanimously passing Bill 14 earlier this month.

The controversy continued last week when Rodriguez announced he had suspended Liberal member of the legislature Sona Lakhoyan Olivier from caucus because of an investigation launched by Quebec’s ethics commissioner.

The ethics commissioner’s office said it was investigating whether Lakhoyan Olivier used resources from her constituency office for partisan objectives during the leadership campaign.

Lakhoyan Olivier has denied any wrongdoing and is cooperating with the investigation.

More allegations were levelled against the Rodriguez campaign this week. They involve individuals who made a $500 dollar donation to his campaign and were subsequently reimbursed.

The Journal de Montréal reported on Dec. 16 that a fundraiser for Rodriguez organized by a wealthy businessman was held in April in a private residence. It is alleged that the host returned $500 in cash to approximately 20 individuals who were unable to pay the entry fee, effectively subsidizing their donations to the tune of $10,000. This practice is prohibited by Quebec’s election regulations.

The Epoch Times has not independently verified these allegations.

Rodriguez, who was present at the April fundraiser, has denied any knowledge about the practice.

A statement from the Rodriguez campaign said he has instructed a lawyer to file a complaint about the matter with the anti-corruption police.

“This action is unacceptable, unethical, contrary to the rules in force, and was never part of the campaign’s practices,” the statement says. “It was taken without authorization, without instruction, and without the knowledge of Pablo Rodriguez and his team.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.