The Quebec Liberal Party is optimistic as an independent report moves former leader Pablo Rodriguez closer to clearing his name from allegations of vote-buying that rocked the party last year. The report, authored by ex-judge Jacques Fournier, was initiated by the party post-scandal to investigate claims of offering $100 “brownies” for votes for Rodriguez. While the report couldn’t definitively dismiss the allegations, it highlighted the lack of concrete evidence.
Interim leader Marc Tanguay emphasized the report’s value, citing 14 testimonies under oath that refuted the accusations. Despite being unable to confirm Rodriguez’s innocence, Tanguay stressed the absence of supporting evidence for the claims. Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois (PQ) awaits the outcome of parallel investigations, including one by Quebec’s anti-corruption unit (UPAC), before passing judgment.
Fournier’s inquiry focused on text messages revealed by the Journal de Montreal in November, which he couldn’t verify due to unavailability of the original texts. The report noted that any potential wrongdoing did not affect the election’s outcome. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon urged the Liberals to reinstate Rodriguez based on their confidence in the report, although he doubted it would happen.
The scandal led to Rodriguez’s resignation in December to avoid distracting from the upcoming election. The report also cleared two Quebec MNAs implicated in the allegations. Analysts are now pondering the report’s implications on the party’s future leadership, especially for key contender Charles Milliard, in terms of rebuilding trust among voters.
