The topology of moduli spaces of group representations: The case of compact surface

Let G be a connected complex semisimple affine algebraic group, and let K be a maximal compact subgroup of G. Let X be a noncompact oriented surface. The main theorem of Florentino and Lawton (2009) [3] says that the moduli space of flat K-connections on X is a strong deformation retraction of the moduli space of flat G-connections on X. We prove that this statement fails whenever X is compact of genus at least two. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.