Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez has taken decisive action following explosive allegations of vote-buying during his leadership campaign, calling for an independent external audit to investigate the claims.
Serious Allegations Prompt Immediate Response
On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Rodriguez responded to a Journal de Montréal report alleging financial compensation was provided to party members who supported his successful leadership bid last spring. The Liberal leader described the allegations as "extremely serious" in an official statement.
"Because we take this situation extremely seriously and we want to shed all the light on them, I have asked the president of the Liberal Party of Quebec to mandate an independent external auditing firm to conduct a complete investigation," Rodriguez declared.
Text Messages Reveal Alleged Scheme
The newspaper's investigation centers around text messages between two unnamed individuals who allegedly worked on Rodriguez's campaign. The exchanges suggest voters received financial incentives for purchasing party memberships to support Rodriguez.
One message asks: "Did you have a chance to pick up the member's cards?" to which the response comes: "Yes it is all done." Another message inquires: "The money also?" followed by: "So everyone will get a paid card this week?"
Most notably, one message states: "So all that will be left is that when they have voted they get a brownie for voting?" with the response: "That's how I won my nomination campaign so everyone is aware." The term "brownie" is identified as slang for a $100 bill.
Key Political Figures Deny Involvement
Political analyst Jonathan Trudeau claimed the text messages were exchanged between Liberal MNA for Chomedey, Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, and Coalition Avenir Québec MNA for Fabre, Alice Abou-Khalil. Both politicians issued strong denials.
Lakhoyan Olivier stated on social media: "I categorically deny being the person involved in these exchanges which could have been falsified, in whole or in part, and for which there has been no demonstration of authenticity by any independent source."
Abou-Khalil echoed similar sentiments: "I want to be clear. I have nothing to do with this story. The text messages in the Journal de Montréal story do not come from me. I am not the person involved in this exchange."
Deepening Crisis for Quebec Liberals
The vote-buying allegations compound existing turmoil within the Quebec Liberal Party. Just one day earlier, Rodriguez removed parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy from her position and suspended her from the Liberal caucus for firing her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, without consultation.
Rodriguez characterized Rizqy's actions as a "breach of trust," though it remains unclear whether the text message allegations connect to Hinse's dismissal. Previous reports suggested Rizqy fired Hinse over allegations of using National Assembly funds for partisan activities.
The external audit represents Rodriguez's attempt to address the mounting political crisis as the party prepares for the 2026 provincial election.
