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Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez has removed Marwah Rizqy from her role as parliamentary leader and suspended her from the Liberal caucus after a “breach of trust,” the party announced in a statement Tuesday.
Rodriguez named Rizqy parliamentary leader in June. His decision to relieve the MNA for Montreal’s Saint-Laurent riding from her duties comes in the midst of her firing her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse.
In Montreal, the Rodriguez confirmed the breach of trust relates to Rizqy firing Hinse and replacing her without consulting him beforehand.
“It came as a total surprise to me. And to the members of the caucus as well. So in my opinion, it’s something very serious,” the Liberal leader told reporters on Tuesday.
He said that on Monday, he questioned Rizqy, who was accompanied by a lawyer.
Rodriguez added that Hinse is someone he has a lot of respect for on a personal and professional level.
“I think she must be suffering a lot at home. I have no idea why this happened,” he said.
Radio-Canada sources say Hinse’s dismissal — announced to other caucus members Monday evening — stems from a personality clash between her and Rizqy.
Rizqy refused to comment on Tuesday.
André Fortin, MNA for Pontiac, has been named parliamentary leader and LaFontaine MNA Marc Tanguay will serve as party whip.
Rodriguez and Rizqy have known each other for about a decade. He recruited her to be a candidate for the Liberal Party in Hochelaga in the 2015 general election, although Rizqy lost by fewer than 500 votes to her NDP opponent Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet.
During his leadership campaign for the Quebec Liberals, Rizqy and her husband, fellow Liberal MNA Gregory Kelley, supported Rodriguez’s candidacy, with Rizqy saying in May that her mind and heart were made up “for months” to back the former federal cabinet minister.
Rizqy announced last year she would not seek re-election in 2026, opting to step away from politics to spend more time with her young family.