Sklavounos, Surprenant won’t seek re-election

Two independent MNAs kicked out of their parties announced Friday afternoon they will not seek re-election in October.

Gerry Sklavounos, MNA for Montreal’s Laurier-Dorion riding, confirmed “what my family and close friends have been able to foresee for several months already” in a post on Twitter, and said he would spend more time with his young family. “The arrival of our third child, impatiently expected next month, was decisive in my reflection.”

Sklavounos, an MNA since 2007, withdrew from the Liberal caucus on Oct. 20, 2016, following news of a sexual assault allegation against him from an employee of a Quebec City restaurant.

Meanwhile, Claude Surprenant, the MNA for Groulx riding covering Boisbriand, Ste-Thérèse and Rosemère north of Montreal, announced Friday he would not seek another mandate because of “procedures longer than expected to demonstrate the truth to the National Assembly” about an allegation against him.

Surprenant, an MNA since 2014, was removed from the Coalition Avenir Québec caucus on Jan. 24, 2017, after an investigation was launched into his expense account. He said the investigation came because of a complaint by a disgruntled former employee, who he accused of stealing from him.

In a long letter sent to journalists, Surprenant said he remains “bitter” about leader François Legault’s decision to suspend him and make declarations “based on perceptions and not facts.”

He said he would focus his energies on proving his innocence, and suggested the province should consider non-partisan elections.

The Liberals have not yet chosen a candidate for Laurier-Dorion riding, nor has the CAQ chosen a candidate for Groulx.