Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez steps down as party faces investigation

Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez is resigning amid growing turmoil linked to the party’s recent leadership contest, according to sources familiar with the decision.

Two senior party sources confirmed to The Canadian Press that Rodriguez will step aside, though he has not yet made a public statement. His departure comes as the Quebec Liberals confront a criminal investigation by the province’s anti-corruption police, the Unité permanente anticorruption, following allegations connected to the June leadership race.

Rodriguez’s campaign has been placed under scrutiny amid claims that some individuals may have received cash incentives in exchange for votes and that certain donors were reimbursed for their contributions. The allegations have intensified internal divisions within the party, which has been struggling to rebuild support since its defeat in the 2022 provincial election.

Rodriguez has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he complied with party rules and election laws. He has said he supports a full investigation and wants all the facts to be made public. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations.

The controversy adds to broader challenges facing Quebec’s Liberal Party, which has been without official party status at the National Assembly and has been seeking stability and renewed credibility ahead of the next provincial campaign.