The political future of Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez is under intense scrutiny after a crucial party caucus meeting was abruptly postponed on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The delay comes amid a growing scandal involving allegations of improper campaign financing during his leadership race.
A Leader in Distress and a Delayed Meeting
Originally scheduled for 8:30 a.m., the meeting of Liberal Members of the National Assembly was pushed back to 2 p.m. This postponement fueled rampant speculation about Rodriguez's position. Adding to the drama, La Presse reported that Rodriguez had called people close to him on Tuesday "in tears," openly questioning his future as party leader.
The crisis stems from a report published Tuesday in the Journal de Montréal. It alleged that a businessman reimbursed participants $500 each at a fundraising event attended by Rodriguez. The reimbursements were allegedly made in exchange for contributions to Rodriguez's leadership campaign.
Unfolding Allegations and Calls for Investigation
Organizers who worked on Rodriguez's leadership campaign stated they confronted the businessman in question after the report surfaced. They claim he admitted to reimbursing the donors. Both the organizers and a spokesperson for Rodriguez insist the leader had no knowledge of the alleged payments. The campaign organizers have formally requested that Quebec's anti-corruption unit, UPAC, investigate the matter.
Multiple media outlets, including Le Journal, La Presse, and Radio-Canada, have identified the businessman as Emanuel Cabral, president of Global International Networks Wines & Spirits. When contacted, Cabral's lawyer, Mario Proulx, would neither confirm nor deny his client's involvement in the alleged transactions.
Broader Fallout Within the Party
The scandal's reach appears to extend further into the party apparatus. A separate report from Le Journal on Wednesday indicated that Geneviève Hinse, the fired chief of staff for ex-Liberal house leader Marwah Rizqy, was tasked with overseeing financing at the event in question. However, the same report stated there is "no evidence" Hinse was aware of the alleged reimbursements.
Jacques Martineau, the spokesperson for Rodriguez's leadership campaign, clarified to Le Journal that Hinse's role was merely "administrative" and that she did not necessarily organize the event. The Montreal Gazette has sought comment from Hinse's lawyer.
These latest allegations represent the most severe development in a series of reports that have plagued the Quebec Liberals for over a month, shaking the foundation of the party's leadership and casting a long shadow over its immediate future. The outcome of the rescheduled caucus meeting is now awaited as a pivotal moment for the party's direction.
