Former parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy expelled from Quebec Liberal Party caucus

Former parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy has been expelled from Quebec Liberal Party caucus, two weeks after being suspended for a disagreement with leader Pablo Rodriguez.

“She chose to turn her back on our team, that’s enough. Enough is enough,” Rodriguez said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference, surrounded by several caucus members.

“For the past two weeks, she has done a lot of damage to the Quebec Liberal Party.”

Rodriguez stated that his former colleague had betrayed his loyalty him by not explaining the reasons for her decision to dismiss her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, without first informing him. According to Rodriguez, the MNA for Saint-Laurent never responded when he asked her for further explanation.

Rizqy acknowledged her expulsion in a brief social media post.

“From the day I was elected as the Member of the National Assembly for Saint-Laurent, I have represented my constituents with dedication and diligence,” she wrote. “I wish to reiterate and assure them that I will represent them with the same commitment, now as an independent member.”

Hinse, a close associate of Rodriguez’s, could be reinstated as chief of staff, he announced at the press conference.

“I have no evidence to suggest she did anything wrong. How can you fire someone like that?” Rodriguez asked.

The reasons for Hinse’s dismissal remain unclear. In a previous statement, Rizqy argued she could not comment publicly because it was a human resources matter.

Since then, the party has been embroiled in a crisis exacerbated by the publication of several allegations targeting the party and Rodriguez’s leadership race.

On Tuesday morning, Quebecor media outlets reported that a contractor had allegedly donated money to Rodriguez’s campaign at the request of a friend who was reportedly looking for a straw donor.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez reiterated there would be an investigation into the allegations surrounding the leadership race led by former judge Jacques R. Fournier. His report is due at the end of January.

“We want to get to the bottom of this. If wrongdoing is confirmed at the conclusion of this investigation, there will be consequences,” he assured.

‘We’re fed up‘

Interviewed before the press conference, several caucus members showed signs of exasperation with the situation.

“We’re fed up in the caucus,” said Marquette MNA Enrico Ciccone. “Personally, I’m sick of this. Enough is enough.”

MNA Monsef Derraji also said he was “fed up” with the events.

“All of my colleagues in the caucus want the truth to come out. And if there are people who have done something wrong, let’s name them and kick them out,” Derraji said.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews