Dirty accusations disrupt Flemish politics

Politicians in Flanders woke up with a hangover on Wednesday morning. In two separate cases, grave insults were thrown at politicians late on Tuesday. In one case, the discussion was between two politicians; in the other, citizens went mudslinging on social media.

The two politicians involved in the first incident were minister for Sports Annick De Ridder and Gwendolyn Rutten, member of the Flemish parliament for opposition party Open VLD. After a very heated debate in parliament, De Ridder told Rutten to drink some tea to calm her nerves. Rutten replied that De Ridder should snort some more (referring to cocaine).

De Ridder immediately asked for apologies and denied being a drug user. Rutten, still in parliament, said both politicians exaggerated. On Wednesday, she apologised in clear terms.

The second incident involved Melissa Depraetere, minister vice president of the Flemish government. Depraetere planned to interrupt her mandate in a couple of months due to her pregnancy. But after a warning from her gynaecologist, she decided to stop immediately and rest, considering her infant’s health.

Many opinions have been passed but only one counts: that of doctors

On social media, several people started insulting De Praetere and politicians in general, with accusations of incompetence and profiteering. On Wednesday, De Praetere got public support from colleagues inside the government. Her party president, Connor Rousseau, spoke about ‘pathetic losers’. Depraetere herself reacted with calm. ‘Many opinions have been passed but only one counts: that of doctors’.

_{#FlandersNewsService | Melissa Depratere © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}