A Belgian journalist, Mélanie De Groote, has been taken to court following an investigation she had published in the French-language political magazine 'Wilfried' on 3 October 2024.
The investigation, called 'Claude Eerdekens, le vieux fauve d’Andenne' ("Claude Eerdekens, the old wild beast of Andenne") was published just over a week before the municipal election. It is based on 33 witness accounts, some of which allege a penchant of Eerdekens, the former mayor of Andenne (a Walloon town close to Namur), for alleged intimidation, sexist behaviour and bullying.
"Under the pretext of journalistic freedom, you are giving the floor to vultures," Eerdekens said, according to comments reported by the magazine. "I think we are going to end up in court."
After the publication of the article, Eerdekens and the municipality of Andenne summoned De Groote to appear before the Namur Court of First Instance on claims of "slander, libel and breach of privacy." Wilfried's editor-in-chief said that he supported the journalist "without reservation."
'Unlawful' court case
De Groote is being defended by a lawyer from the Association of Professional Journalists (AJP), which called the court case "judicial harassment and an inappropriate use of public power and funds" against the journalist.
Eerdekens, meanwhile, condemned the article, calling it "a collusion between the opposition and Ecolo, in particular" to "destroy" him on the eve of the elections. "I am hurt. I have not experienced anything like this in 52 years."
In mid-January 2025, the Walloon Minister for Local Authorities François Desquesnes exercised his supervisory powers and annulled the decision of the Andenne city council to take legal action against De Groote, ruling that it was "unlawful in form."
However, two weeks later, on 28 January, the current mayor of Andenne, Vincent Sampaoli, announced that the city council would once again be asked to join Eerdekens' lawsuit at the next council meeting on Monday 17 February.
Former Andenne Mayor Claude Eerdekens. Credit: Belga/Maxime Asselberghs
The Safety of Journalism Platform, which reports on serious threats to the safety of journalists and media freedom in Europe, classified this case as a "level 2." This is a systemic alert that covers "serious threats to media freedom", which includes acts of intimidation and harassment, disproportionate use of legislation and the misuse of governmental powers to direct media content or penalise journalists.
According to the yearly Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Belgium ranked 16th in the world in 2024 (with a score of 81.49/100) – up from 31st place the year before.
Reporters Without Borders stressed the relatively high level of trust in the media but added that Belgian journalists are sometimes subjected to "intimidation and violence," particularly while covering protests. "Online threats are common and are directed, above all, at women."
