Quebec MNA Marwah Rizqy suspended from Liberal caucus after leader Rodriguez ‘completely surprised’

“Completely surprised” by a decision from Liberal parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy, Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez dismissed the MNA from her position and suspended her from caucus.

Rizqy fired her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, a close associate of Rodriguez’s, without consulting him beforehand, he argued Tuesday afternoon during a scrum with reporters.

In a statement released a few hours earlier, Rodriguez had referred to a “breach of trust” between himself and the MNA for Saint-Laurent.

He explained that she was suspended for the time being: “I need to reflect, and she needs to reflect as well.”

Rizqy has already announced that she will not be running in the 2026 Quebec election.

“Marwah was doing a good job, there are several people who are doing a good job,” he stated.

Rodriguez says he has “no idea” why Hinse was dismissed. He did not specify whether she would be reinstated.

In a brief statement, Rizqy stated that Hinse “was no longer employed” and was being replaced immediately by the director of operations, Isabelle Lord.

Hinse is a close associate of Rodriguez, who does not sit in the National Assembly as he is not an elected member.

Rizqy, who is very popular with the public, endorsed Rodriguez in the leadership race for the Quebec Liberal Party earlier this year.

When contacted earlier in the day, Rizqy declined to comment, simply stating that she was “doing well.”

Pontiac MNA André Fortin will assume the role of parliamentary leader, replacing Rizqy. LaFontaine MNA and former interim leader Marc Tanguay will become the caucus whip.

Quebec Liberal Party president Rafaël Primeau-Ferraro told reporters he would stand by what was stated in the press release.

“It’s a complex situation,” he said. “It’s very sensitive, very new, so we’ll be able to say more later.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews