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Pablo Rodriguez is expected to publicly announce he is stepping down as the Quebec Liberal Party leader at a news conference this morning, after a six-month tenure that ended in internal discord and allegations of vote-buying during his leadership race.
A news conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in Montreal. You can watch it live on this page.
Radio-Canada sources confirm that Rodriguez informed his caucus of the decision during a virtual meeting Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging that he had become a distraction to the party.
His departure leaves the Liberals at a crossroads just 10 months before the next provincial election.
The downfall of the former federal cabinet minister follows weeks of mounting pressure over an alleged vote-buying scheme during his leadership campaign.
Earlier this week, allegations also surfaced that a supporter had issued campaign donation reimbursements. It is alleged that the host of a fundraising event — that Rodriguez attended — handed back $500 in cash to roughly 20 people who could not afford the entry price, effectively covering their donations.
Such a scheme is illegal under Quebec’s election laws.
While Rodriguez has consistently maintained he had no knowledge of these activities and has welcomed a criminal investigation by Quebec’s anti-corruption squad (UPAC), the allegations eroded his support within the Liberal ranks.
The next provincial election is set for October 2026.
Former MNA and political commentator Robert Libman said the next leader will have a difficult task but that “10 months is a long time in politics.”
“They are up against a very unpopular [Coalition Avenir Québec] government and a Parti Québécois that is promising a referendum in its first term—something most Quebecers don’t appear to want,” he said.
With less than 10 months to go until Quebec’s next provincial election, a nearly month-long scandal has led to the resignation of the PLQ’s leader, with several high-profile names already confirming they have no intention of replacing him.
