Lincoln: I say this with a heavy heart. Rodriguez must resign

After the last provincial election, the Quebec Liberal Party found itself in the political doldrums — leaderless, rejected by the crucial francophone electorate, relying for its survival on the ridings of the Montreal area, and mired in the polls.

To its credit, it painstakingly began rebuilding itself. It launched Quebec-wide substantive consultations to prepare for the future election, including the all-important choice of a new leader.

This successful preparation culminated in well organized and attended debates among five worthy and credible candidates. Pablo Rodriguez won the leadership race last July, and the result was graciously received by the losing candidates and all factions of the party alike.

This spirit of revival and hope was soon reflected in the polls, with the QLP closing in within five percentage points of the leading Parti Québécois. Admittedly, the Liberals were still lagging significantly in support among francophone electors, but there was time to remedy this shortfall.

However, suddenly and unexpectedly, a bombshell hit the news headlines. A serious rift had emerged between Rodriguez and his chosen parliamentary leader, Marwah Rizqy, over the firing of the latter’s chief-of-staff without consultation with the leader. It resulted in Rizqy’s demotion, and her eventual ban from the caucus, causing her to now sit as an independent member of the National Assembly.

Coincidentally, stories started to appear in the media suggesting voting improprieties during the leadership contest by Rodriguez supporters, leading to two concurrent investigations, one by UPAC and the other by a highly reputable former judge appointed by the party leader.

In setting up the latter inquiry, Rodriguez emphasized his innocence, and I believe him totally. His standing and integrity have never been in doubt, and if some of his supporters behaved unethically, I believe it was without his knowledge and assent. So, despite the investigations and related media reports, this matter is in my view of far lesser impact than that of the breakup between leader and parliamentary leader.

Politics being the cruel and superficial arena it often is, negative public image and perception not only impair credibility and poll ratings, but can prove fatal to politicians, especially party leaders.

Robert Stanfield, a credible Progressive Conservative contender as prime minister, saw his campaign derailed by a photo of him fumbling a football. Gilles Duceppe, a competent politician, is remembered for the plastic bonnet he wore during a campaign visit to a factory.

I witnessed this fragility first-hand during my first years in politics when our leader in Opposition was Claude Ryan, one of the most eminent Quebecers of his time. After joining René Lévesque in a motion denouncing the patriation of the Canadian Constitution, his leadership and public image would erode steadily until his eventual resignation.

I have hesitated before writing this opinion, for fear of being seen as taking advantage of the current situation, given my support for an opponent of Rodriguez. Let me stress this is a strictly personal comment, shared with none of the previous leadership candidates, or any caucus member.

My motivation stems from being astounded by the number of comments I have received and heard about the leadership issue. The overall feeling shared with me is of being suddenly let down through a fit of internal bickering, which as intelligent grown-ups Rodriguez and Rizqy should have avoided.

The Liberal party is seen by many as the only hope of returning to the normalcy of peace and social justice. There is an intense distrust of the Coalition Avenir Québec government and its authoritarian laws, edicts and increasingly dictatorial ways, as well as a profound anxiety about a possible Parti Québécois victory and the divisiveness and chaotic impacts of a third referendum.

I share that despondency and the loud consensus that Rodriguez must resign as leader promptly, lest a Joe Biden scenario be repeated.

Party, and especially province, are the priority — not the individual.

Clifford Lincoln is a former Quebec Liberal MNA and federal Liberal MP who retired from politics in 2004. He lives in Baie-D’Urfé.

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