Who is Gerry Sklavounos, MNA facing assault allegations? - Action News
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Who is Gerry Sklavounos, MNA facing assault allegations?

The 41-year-old Liberal MNA's political fortunes took a sudden turn under the weight of allegations that he sexually assaulted Quebec City restaurant hostess Alice Paquet in 2014.

Liberal MNA for Laurier-Dorion steps down from caucus amid sexual assault allegation

Gerry Sklavounos is the Liberal MNA for Laurier-Dorion. (Radio-Canada)

In an introductory video on his official National Assembly website, Laurier-Dorion MNA Gerry Sklavounosthanked voters in his Montreal riding for honouring him with afourth consecutive mandate to represent them in Quebec City.

On Thursday, the 41-year-old's political fortunes took a sudden dip under the weight of allegations that he sexually assaulted Quebec City restaurant hostessAlice Paquetin 2014.

Sklavounos, who was serving as Premier Philippe Couillard's deputy house leader, promptly resigned from the Liberal caucus Thursday.

The MNA was not namedby Paquet, who wentpublic with her allegations Wednesday at a vigil organized tocondemna rash of alleged break-ins and sexual assaults at Laval University over the weekend.

In a statement,Couillardconfirmed Thursday evening thatSklavounoshad been asked to leave caucus.

'Learned to dream' in Laurier-Dorion

In his introductory video, Sklavounostalks proudly of growing up in the riding he represented in the National Assembly.

Born in 1974, Sklavounossays he moved to Laurier-Dorion at the age of six with his mother and sister.

"I experienced the best years of my childhood," he says.

"I met my best friends, I learned to dream."

Sklavounosattended CEGEPVanier and studiedlawat McGillUniversity, earning is degree in 1998.

He was called to the Quebec bar in 1999.

Re-elected three times

Sklavounosarticled with the Department of Justice Canada and went on topracticecriminal law for seven years before entering politics.

He was first elected in Laurier-Dorion in 2007 and was re-elected threetimes, in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Sklavounos is also prominent in Montreal's Greek community and has held executive positions with theHellenic Canadian Congress and theHellenic Scholarships Foundation.

In his MNA video, Sklavounospoints to this heritage and his riding's ethnic diversity as a source of pride.

"I want to build a stronger Quebec for my children, for our children, for all of us. Thanks for trusting me with this job," he said in the video.