‘I took this decision solely out of a sense of duty’: Pablo Rodriguez speaks after resignation

Rodriguez stepped down amid mounting controversies, becoming the shortest-serving leader in the Quebec Liberal Party’s history.

Pablo Rodriguez said he decided to step down as Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leader out of a “sense of duty.”

“For my party, which I sincerely love, for Quebec and for my country,” he said.

The former federal cabinet minister held a press conference on Thursday morning at the Quebec Liberals’ headquarters in Montreal to discuss his decision.

Rodriguez admitted that he had become a distraction in recent months, but said he is leaving with his head held high.

“I regret absolutely nothing,” he said, adding that the Liberal Party “is bigger than any of us.”

“It has weathered storms. It has risen time and time again, and it will rise again,” he said.

Rodriguez concluded his statement saying that the Liberal party “deserves to be talked about, not me,” and that the province is at the dawn of a referendum campaign where the future of Canada is at stake.

Rodriguez left the news conference without taking any questions in French or English.

Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone said the caucus remained united behind Rodriguez to the end.

“Nobody was forcing Pablo out, and this was, I think, an honourable decision that he made today himself to choose the party,” she said.

She also made a point to distance the party itself from controversies surrounding Rodriguez’s leadership.

“It wasn’t about the party,” said Maccarone. “It was really about an individual and about leadership race rules.”

Resignation after six months

Rodriguez announced his resignation to his caucus on Wednesday afternoon during a virtual meeting following numerous controversies that had been circulating for several weeks.

• READ MORE: Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez resigns from post

The Liberal leader has been in hot water since mid-November as allegations about his leadership campaign surfaced in the media.

Rodriguez has always maintained that he was unaware of the allegations.

Nevertheless, pressure continued to mount and calls for his resignation grew.

Rodriguez’s decision to step down came a little over six months after he was elected leader.

He made no public statement on Wednesday, reserving his comments for his press briefing on Thursday morning.

The Liberals will now have to find a new leader quickly, with the provincial election scheduled for less than a year away on Oct. 5.

Former candidate Karl Blackburn has expressed some interest in running again.

Charles Milliard, who narrowly lost the leadership race, said he is still considering his options.

Former parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy, who was expelled from the Liberal caucus by Rodriguez following the dismissal of his chief of staff, has ruled out the possibility of entering the race.

With files from The Canadian Press