Belgium Racism Scandal: Mayor Resigns!
Pieter De Crem, Mayor of Aalter and former Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, has resigned following a racism scandal. An investigation revealed discriminatory practices against foreign residents, leading to official scrutiny and political fallout.
Belgium Racism Scandal Forces Aalter Mayor Pieter De Crem to Resign
Discrimination in Municipal Registrations
In a major political scandal, Pieter De Crem, Mayor of Aalter and former Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, resigned after his administration was accused of racial discrimination. Investigations by Flemish public broadcaster VRT and the newspaper De Morgen revealed that foreign residents registering in Aalter faced waiting times nine times longer than Belgian nationals.
Flemish Government Confirms Discrimination
The Flemish government conducted an inspection following the media revelations, confirming that the municipality’s registration procedures were discriminatory. Flemish Minister of the Interior, Hilde Crevits, stated: “Legal provisions have been openly violated for a long time.” A formal investigation was subsequently launched, and De Crem’s dismissal appeared imminent.
De Crem Announces Resignation
Under mounting pressure, De Crem, a member of the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party, announced his resignation from both the mayoralty and municipal council as of yesterday. However, his position as General Commissioner of BelExpo, Belgium’s agency for international trade fairs, remains unaffected.
Political Career Background
Pieter De Crem has had a long and influential political career. Between 2018 and 2020, he served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of the Interior. His sudden resignation over a racism scandal marks a significant moment in Flemish and Belgian politics.
