Quebec Liberal leader to resign after weeks of turmoil: sources

Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez will resign from his post during a meeting with his caucus this afternoon, according to Radio-Canada sources.

Rodriguez has yet to make a public announcement. He is scheduled to meet party members at 2 p.m. ET.

According to sources, Rodriguez felt he had become too great a distraction and that his presence was hurting the party. A formal announcement is expected on Thursday.

The decision comes after weeks of turmoil within the Quebec Liberal Party. Prominent Liberals had been calling on Rodriguez to resign from his post.

The pressure on Rodriguez ramped up after allegations surfaced Tuesday of illegal campaign donations.

It is alleged that the host of a fundraising event 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.

In a statement Tuesday, the Liberal Party confirmed Rodriguez was present at the event, but maintained that neither he nor his team had any knowledge of the alleged payouts.

The allegations marked the latest blow to Rodriguez and the Liberals.

The political crisis began on Nov. 18, when Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy was suspended from caucus and removed from her position as parliamentary leader for firing her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, without consulting Rodriguez.

The next day, the Journal de Montréal published alleged text messages suggesting that some members of the party had received $100 to vote for Rodriguez in the party's leadership race.

UPAC, Quebec's anti-corruption police, has since launched an investigation into the alleged pay-for-vote scheme. Rodriguez has maintained he knew nothing about that arrangement as well.

Election next year

Rodriguez, a former federal MP and cabinet minister under the Trudeau government, has only been at the helm of the Quebec Liberals for six months — since winning the leadership last June.

His departure would leave the party leaderless heading into an election year. The Liberals are the Official Opposition at Quebec’s National Assembly, with the governing Coalition Avenir Québec holding a significant majority.