The 21st chamber of the Hainaut Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal by FGTB leader Thierry Bodson and the National Union of Socialist Mutual Insurance Organisations (UNMS) on Wednesday against a judgement made on 28 February 2024 by the Hainaut Court of First Instance, Mons division.
The appellants had sought the condemnation of MR liberal party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez, who had compared the UNMS and FGTB to mafia organisations in November 2022.
Both organisations demanded that Bouchez pay €5,001 in moral damages. Bodson requested that the Francophone liberal be ordered to pay €1 in moral damages.
However, on 28 February 2024, the initial judge declared the FGTB's request inadmissible. The claims from the UNMS and Bodson were deemed admissible but unfounded.
UNMS and Bodson appealed this judgement. This appeal was declared admissible but unfounded, leading the Court of Appeal to dismiss the socialist organisation and the FGTB leader's appeal.
Bodson and the UNMS are now liable for Bouchez's appeal costs amounting to €1,350. They must also pay the Belgian State €400 in registration fees for the appeal.
