In a striking public intervention, former Quebec Liberal MNA and federal MP Clifford Lincoln has called for the resignation of Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) leader Pablo Rodriguez. Writing in a special to the Montreal Gazette, Lincoln states he makes the appeal "with a heavy heart," emphasizing that the needs of the party and the province must come before any single individual.
A Party's Painful Rebuilding Effort
Lincoln outlines the difficult position the QLP found itself in after the last provincial election. The party was leaderless, rejected by the crucial francophone electorate, and reliant on Montreal-area ridings for survival. A careful rebuilding process followed, featuring province-wide consultations and a leadership race that culminated in July with Pablo Rodriguez's victory, a result accepted by all factions.
This renewal showed early promise, with polls indicating the Liberals were closing to within five points of the leading Parti Québécois, though francophone support remained a significant challenge.
The Bombshell: Internal Rift and Investigations
The momentum was abruptly halted by two major crises. First, a serious rift emerged between Rodriguez and his chosen parliamentary leader, Marwah Rizqy. The conflict, stemming from the firing of Rizqy's chief-of-staff without the leader's consultation, led to Rizqy's demotion, her eventual ban from caucus, and her current status as an independent MNA.
Second, media reports surfaced alleging voting improprieties by Rodriguez supporters during the leadership contest. This sparked two concurrent investigations: one by UPAC (Quebec's anti-corruption unit) and another by a former judge appointed by Rodriguez himself.
Lincoln is clear that he believes Rodriguez personally did nothing wrong regarding the voting allegations, stating the leader's "standing and integrity have never been in doubt." However, he argues the damage from the very public breakup with Rizqy is of far greater consequence.
The Cruel Arena of Public Perception
The core of Lincoln's argument rests on the unforgiving nature of political image. "Politics being the cruel and superficial arena it often is," he writes, negative perception can prove fatal to leaders. He cites historical examples like Robert Stanfield's fumbled football photo and Gilles Duceppe's plastic bonnet, which overshadowed their substantive political work.
He also draws a parallel to his own experience with former leader Claude Ryan, whose public image eroded after a contentious decision, leading to his resignation. Lincoln fears a similar, rapid decline for Rodriguez and the party.
Motivated by an outpouring of concern from citizens, Lincoln describes a widespread feeling of being "suddenly let down" by internal bickering. He shares the public's view of the Liberals as the only hope for countering the CAQ's "authoritarian laws" and preventing the divisiveness of a potential PQ-led referendum.
His conclusion is stark: to avoid a "Joe Biden scenario" of clinging to power amid declining viability, Rodriguez must resign promptly. "Party, and especially province, are the priority — not the individual," Lincoln concludes, framing his plea as an act of necessity for Quebec's political future.
Clifford Lincoln, who retired from politics in 2004, published this opinion on December 16, 2025.
