The founder and leader of Quebec's pro-sovereignty party Option Nationale is quitting politics.
Jean-Martin Aussant made the announcement Wednesday morning, saying the struggle to run a fledgling party and raise twin two-year-olds is just too much.
He clearly found the decision heartbreaking, and as he read his statement broke into tears, thanking the 80,000 people -- 2 per cent of the vote -- who voted for Option Nationale and thanked his wife for her support.
Aussant was a former vice-president of Morgan Stanley, leaving the business world to pursue a career in politics with the Parti Quebecois, but he was quickly disillusioned after being elected in 2009.
In 2011 as Pauline Marois's leadership was being challenged from within the party, Aussant along with several other members left the PQ. Aussant then opted to found a new party dedicated to Quebec's independence, saying the PQ had lost its way.
"It's more sadness than frustration. Polls still show that about 40 per cent of Quebecers are in favour of sovereignty and the largest party doesn't really talk about it," said Aussant.
Some pundits said that having three mainstream parties with a sovereignty plank in their platform was too many and resulted in vote-splitting.
Nathaly Dufour will pick up where Aussant left off, leading Option Nationale as interim president.
Don't count Aussant out just yet -- Aussant said that when his children are older he will likely return to politics.
"I'm sure Jean-Martin Aussant will continue to defend this project. He's a passionate person, and he wants to succeed in this project," said Marois.
Marois wished Aussant well, taking the opportunity to tell sovereignists that the PQ is their best option. Recent polls, however, suggest Quebec solidaire and Option nationale are eating away at the PQ's base.
