A new chapter for the Québec Liberal Party under Pablo Rodriguez

On June 14, the Québec Liberal Party (PLQ) finally elected a new leader, after more than two years of uncertainty following Dominique Anglade’s resignation in November 2022. Pablo Rodriguez, a seasoned federal politician and former Trudeau cabinet minister, won the leadership with 52% of the vote. While the race itself failed to capture widespread public enthusiasm, it featured credible contenders. Charles Milliard, the former CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, came in second with an impressive showing, ahead of Karl Blackburn, who was a late entry to the race.

Rodriguez now faces a monumental task. The party is at one of its lowest points in history, with only 20 MNAs sitting in the National Assembly. As someone firmly rooted in Montreal politics, Rodriguez will need to prove he can rebuild broad Liberal support across Québec’s regions. In that regard, his leadership may benefit from the openness of his former rivals: Milliard is reportedly considering a run in Estrie, and Blackburn in the Saguenay, both key regions for the party’s revival.

With the next general election scheduled for October 2026, Rodriguez has ruled out running in a by-election, including the still-unannounced race in Arthabaska. This means he will have to establish his leadership without a seat in the National Assembly, over the course of a crucial year. François Legault’s CAQ is at a low point in the polls, and early numbers suggest that Rodriguez’s election has sparked renewed interest in the Québec Liberals.

Rodriguez is a skilled parliamentarian and a veteran political strategist, and he’s wasted no time in sending strong signals about his intentions and approach. One of his first moves was to appoint Marwah Rizqy, a sharp and respected voice in the National Assembly, as his parliamentary leader. He has also built a robust economic team, likely in response to growing concerns over the CAQ’s management of Québec’s finances.

Rodriguez is also a committed federalist, and with Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Parti Québécois gaining momentum, the traditional sovereignty-versus-federalism debate may once again become central to Québec’s political narrative in the 2026 election. If that’s the case, Rodriguez is well positioned to lead the federalist side of that conversation.

For a party plagued by identity questions and dwindling support outside Montreal, Rodriguez’s leadership offers a much-needed sense of direction and rejuvenation. Whether he can turn renewed interest into a real electoral comeback remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the PLQ is finally back in motion.