Affected by allegations of sexual assault, city councilor Craig Sauvé, elected under the banner of Projet Montréal, intends to sit as an independent if he obtains a third term. But for logistical reasons, his name will remain associated with Valérie Plante’s party on the ballots this weekend.
In a message posted on social networks Thursday evening, Mr. Sauvé announced that he was withdrawing “from [son] willingly ”from the Projet Montréal caucus to“ avoid becoming a distraction in this election campaign ”. An announcement that came on the same day a CBC report was published that reported allegations of sexual assault regarding an event that allegedly occurred in 2012. A mediation process involving Mr. Sauvé and the alleged victim has since taken place. took place in 2018 and the police closed their investigation last February.
The alleged victim of Mr. Sauvé, who requested anonymity, however told the To have to Thursday that she does not rule out possible legal actions against her alleged attacker.
“Mr. Sauvé, based on possible recourse from the complainant, judged that it was the right thing to do [de se retirer de Projet Montréal] and I agree with him because we want to let the process take its course ”, reacted Friday morning the head of Projet Montreal, Valérie Plante, during a press briefing held in a park in Montreal. -North.
“We discussed together and it took hold of itself,” she added later.
Still associated with Projet Montreal
Craig Sauvé will however continue to be a member and candidate for Projet Montréal until the end of this election. His name will therefore be associated with that of the party on the ballots that Montrealers fill out on Saturday and Sunday. The application period actually ended on October 1st. It is therefore now “impossible” for a candidate to “change his party membership,” confirmed by email a spokesperson for Elections Montreal, Mathilde Saint-Vincent.
“So, unless he decides to completely withdraw his candidacy, which is not the case for the moment, he has no choice but to be displayed under Projet Montréal on the ballot. . He can then decide to sit as an independent, ”she added of Mr. Sauvé.
In the meantime, the candidate “is not excluded from the caucus” of Projet Montreal, confirmed Ms. Plante on Friday, while ensuring that it “will sit as independent”, if elected.
The formation of Denis Coderre for its part demands the outright withdrawal of the candidacy of Craig Sauvé in this electoral race. The councilor is running for a third term in a district of the Sud-Ouest borough. In recent years, he has notably sat on the executive committee as an associate advisor in mobility, then in housing. He is also still vice-chairman of the board of directors of the STM.
“Transparency applies to others, but not to Valérie Plante,” lamented the conductor of Ensemble Montreal, in a press release issued on Friday. At 24 hours before the vote, Projet Montreal maintains a candidate who has serious allegations of sexual assault. It is an aberration. “
Thursday evening, the Ensemble Montreal party also made particularly harsh remarks against Ms. Plante in this case. The party accuses, among other things, of having lied to the media, in the winter of 2020, when she said that none of the elected members of her party was to her knowledge concerned by allegations of harassment or harassment. sexual assault.
“After lying and trying to manipulate the electorate, it is clear that Valérie Plante not only tolerates, but accepts the presence of suspected sexual assailants in her team,” the party wrote on Twitter, in a publication of rare violence. Words that Ms. Plante condemned Friday.
“There is clearly panic and an intention to attack us in a vicious way,” she lamented, referring to the opposition, when a recent survey by the Mainstreet Research firm obtained by The news places Valérie Plante ahead of Denis Coderre. The probe gives 46% of the voting intentions to Ms. Plante, against 40% for Denis Coderre. The leader of Mouvement Montréal, Balarama Holness, garners 5% of the support. The poll, which is based on a sample of 850 respondents, shows 7% to be undecided.
In recent weeks, several successive soundings have placed Valérie Plante and Denis Coderre neck and neck.
Montreal voters will head to the polls on Saturday and Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.