The new office in Halle of Flemish nationalists N-VA was targeted by vandals last night, the party reported on Saturday afternoon.
The posters of the Ben Weyts and Theo Francken, as well as the sign above the entrance, were taken away. Flemish Minister Ben Weyts said it was politically-inspired vandalism: “If this becomes the climate in which we are heading for elections, I am already holding my breath.”
N-VA Vlaams-Brabant is opening four new secretariats in the province: in Halle, in Vilvoorde, in Leuven and in Tielt-Winge. Yesterday, Friday 22 September, the secretariat in Halle was the first to be festively opened. About 100 people were present in the room on the Ninoofsesteenweg, which is decorated like a Flemish House, according to the party.
Saturday morning, however, the local branch had to note that two large posters of Brabant N-VA leaders Ben Weyts and Theo Francken, which had been hung on either side of the entrance, had been torn away, and the sign above the entrance had been removed.
“Unknown vandals took advantage of the night to strike quickly,” an N-VA statement read. “Apparently, N-VA’s presence was a major thorn in their side. A big blow to all the volunteers who had worked hard for two months to get this Flemish House ready.”
“This is not mischief but politically-inspired vandalism of the worst kind,” says Flemish minister Ben Weyts. “It evokes memories of the 2014 campaign, when a campaign bus of N-VA Vlaams-Brabant was even set on fire. We are not going to be intimidated or deterred.
"In the Brussels Periphery, there is sometimes intense hostility against everything that is proudly Flemish, but this only strengthens our conviction. We are going to restore everything quickly. The Flemish House of Halle will remain where it is and everyone will continue to be welcome there in the coming months,” he said.
