Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez to Resign Amid Mounting Controversy

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 Thursday.

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

Pressure intensified 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 — a practice that is illegal under Quebec election law.

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

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

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

The following day, the Journal de Montréal published alleged text messages suggesting some party members received $100 to vote for Rodriguez in the leadership race.

Quebec’s anti-corruption police, UPAC, has since launched an investigation into the alleged pay-for-vote scheme. Rodriguez has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the arrangement.