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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 Rizqy from her duties comes in the midst of her firing her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse.
Radio-Canada sources say Hinse’s dismissal — announced to other caucus members Monday evening — stems from a personality clash between her and Rizqy, who allegedly acted without consulting or informing Rodriguez.
“This difficult but necessary measure aims to ensure the cohesion and proper functioning of the Liberal caucus in the National Assembly,” the statement reads.
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.
