The Mediahuis publications are reporting on Friday that Vlaams Belang are pressing charges against, Meyrem Almaci, the leader of Groen (the Flemish Green party), for defamation after she described the far-right party as “racist”, during a parliamentary debate. The Greens reacted, "We always oppose racism and discrimination both in words and deeds.”
The proceedings were started on Thursday. They echo the judgment, passed on Monday on appeal, blaming the organisers of the Antwerp Book Fair, Boek.be, being sued by the publishing group, Egmont, for having banned Egmont from the event. The organisers accused the organisation of being a political instrument for the far right. The court held, “…it remains unproven that the beliefs of the party are racist or discriminatory in any form.”
For its part, Groen maintains that these proceedings will not undermine its position. The party reacted, “We always oppose racism and discrimination both in words and deeds. Proceedings by Vlaams Belang will change nothing in that regard.”
The Brussels Times
