Conner Rousseau re-elected as leader of Vooruit

Conner Rousseau has been re-elected as leader of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit. The 31-year-old resigned as party leader last year over racist remarks he made about the Roma community.

Rousseau was re-elected on Thursday with 94 per cent of the vote from party members. He will immediately take over from Melissa Depraetere, who stepped in after his resignation in November.

Rousseau resigned after he was caught making racist and sexist remarks to police officers in a bar in Sint-Niklaas in September. He had allegedly urged the officers to use their truncheons against members of the Roma community.

Following an investigation into the incident, the public prosecutor's office of East Flanders initiated a mediation procedure to resolve the matter out of court. The procedure included mediation with the Roma community and sessions with a therapist.

Regaining control

The scandal, however, did not prove to be Rousseau's undoing. After a strong showing in Belgium's elections in June, it became clear that he was on track to regain control of the party.

Last month, Depraetere announced she would not be standing in the upcoming leadership election, saying she hoped Rousseau would pick up where he left off. He was ultimately the only candidate in the race.

Rousseau's election must still be ratified at the party's congress in Ghent on 31 August, but he is already taking over party leadership. His party is involved in the ongoing negotiations to form both the Belgian federal government and the regional government of Flanders.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Incoming and outgoing Vooruit leaders Conner Rousseau and Melissa Depraetere during a party meeting in Brussels on 9 July © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT}