2026 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election
March 14, 2026[1]
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| Resigning leader | Pablo Rodriguez |
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The 2026 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election will be held on March 14, 2026,[1] to elect a new leader to replace former Quebec Liberal Party leader Pablo Rodriguez, who announced his resignation on December 17, 2025 amid a political crisis.[2]
Background
In the preceding 2025 leadership election, former federal Cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez was elected on the second ballot against former Quebec Chamber of Commerce president Charles Milliard by less than 5 percentage points. After winning the leadership, Rodriguez appointed MNA Marwah Rizqy as parliamentary leader. She was removed as leader by Rodriguez in November 2025, after Rizqy fired her chief of staff without consulting him.[3] The same month, he served a legal notice to newspaper Le Journal de Montréal, after it reported that Quebec Liberal Party members were allegedly financially rewarded for voting for Rodriguez in the leadership election; he denied the accusations.[4] The Unité permanente anticorruption confirmed that it opened an investigation in December 2025, and many former Liberal MNAs called for Rodriguez to resign.[5] After weeks of party turmoil, Rodriguez announced his resignation as party leader to his caucus on December 17, 2025, triggering the 2026 leadership election.[6]
Rules and procedures
The race will officially start on January 12, 2026. The candidate registration period will run until February 13, 2026. To be registered in the race, candidates will need to collect signatures from 750 members in good standing. Candidates will also need to make a $30,000 deposit to participate. The spending limit will be $120,000, excluding the deposit.[1]
Timeline
- December 17, 2025 – Pablo Rodriguez resigns as party leader amid a political crisis.
- December 19, 2025 – LaFontaine MNA Marc Tanguay is named interim leader.
- December 23, 2025 – The party announces the rules for the leadership contest.
- January 12, 2026 – Leadership campaign period start date.
- February 13, 2026 – Last day for candidate registration.
- March 14, 2026 – Leadership election results announced.
Candidates
Potential candidates
- Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change (2021–2025), MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie (2019–present).[7]
- Charles Milliard, president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (2020–2024), runner up in the 2025 leadership election.[8]
- Marc Bélanger, lawyer in international trade and fiscalist, fourth in the 2025 leadership election.[9][10]
Declined
- Dominique Anglade, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (2020–2022), Leader of the Opposition of Quebec (2020–2022), Deputy Premier of Quebec (2017–2018), MNA for Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne (2015–2022).[7]
- Karl Blackburn, president of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (2020–2025), director general of the Quebec Liberal Party (2009–2013), MNA for Roberval (2003–2007), placed third in the 2025 leadership election.[8]
- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue (2025–present), MP for Saint-Maurice—Champlain (2015–present).[11]
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry (2025–present), MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville (2015–present).[7]
- André Fortin, parliamentary leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (2025), Leader of the Opposition of Quebec (2025), MNA for Pontiac (2014–present).[12]
- Marwah Rizqy, parliamentary leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (2025), Leader of the Opposition of Quebec (2025), MNA for Saint-Laurent (2018–present).[13]
- Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (2025–present, 2022–2025), Leader of the Opposition of Quebec (2025–present, 2022–2025), MNA for LaFontaine (2012–present).[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Quebec Liberals to choose next leader in March 2026". CBC News. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pablo-rodriguez-liberals-meeting-9.7019192
- ^ The Canadian Press (November 18, 2025). "Quebec MNA Marwah Rizqy suspended from Liberal caucus after leader Rodriguez 'completely surprised'". CityNews Montreal. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Olivier, Annabelle (November 21, 2025). "Quebec Liberal leader threatens legal action over vote-buying scheme allegations". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ^ Authier, Philip (December 11, 2025). "A dozen former Liberal MNAs and ministers call on Pablo Rodriguez to resign". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pablo-rodriguez-liberals-meeting-9.7019192
- ^ a b c "Crise au PLQ: Des militants cherchent déjà un sauveur pour remplacer Pablo Rodriguez".
- ^ a b Lajoie, Geneviève. "Chefferie libérale: Blackburn renonce, le champ libre pour Milliard".
- ^ Sioui, Marie-Michèle. "Le prochain chef libéral sera élu le 14 mars". Le Devoir.
- ^ Bélanger, Marc (December 23, 2025). "Ça bouge au Parti libéral du Québec. Une nouvelle course à la chefferie aura lieu en 2026". X.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7019548
- ^ Cabrera, Holly (December 18, 2025). "Who would want to be Quebec Liberal leader?". CBC News.
- ^ https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/12/17/demission-de-pablo-rodriguez-marwah-rizqy-publie-une-mise-au-point
- ^ https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/12/17/succession-de-pablo-rodriguez--les-pretendants-au-trone-se-preparent