Belgian Justice Minister Vincent van Quickenborn made clear the misconduct of his birthday guests during a private session on Thursday. Last month they urinated on a police car. The pictures give the impression that the minister was aware of this, but Van Quickenborn continues to deny this.
Van Quickenborn insists he was unaware of the incident. During the Justice Committee session, the minister described it as “unrealistic” to explain every moment of that evening.
“I know my style and my personality,” says the minister. “I’m not perfect and people don’t have to like me. But look at my merits. That’s how it should be.” But he apologized at the beginning of the session. “I could sink to the ground out of shame,” said Van Quickenborn.
However, according to the minister, there is also a “keenness” to “expose public figures on the basis of insinuations and insinuations.” “who is next?” he wondered out loud.
Criticism came from the committee. Some people find it embarrassing and uncomfortable to talk about the urinating incident instead of talking about really important things. Another said: “The damage to the security services is enormous.” They also expressed concerns about the relationship between Van Quickenborn and the police officers.
The photos embarrass Van Quickenborn
Three weeks ago, Van Quickenborn’s birthday guests urinated several times on a police car parked at his home. The police reaction was angry. The minister, who is also in charge of the police, disagreed, but insisted he missed it.
New questions imposed themselves after the broadcast VRT I posted pictures from that August evening. Guests who urinate appear to laugh and take pictures and videos of their actions in the empty and open police car, in which they are also sitting for a while.
A few hours later, the minister also came out. On the sidewalk, the minister looks at his phone with a partygoer and pretends to urinate. Van Quickenborn then walks over to the police car and opens the door.
The Minister of Justice insists that he knows nothing about it. His oath says: “An inference from the gestures he was perceiving is an interpretation.”
Police unions demand clarification
The Belgian prosecutor’s office said the investigation had not yet been completed. Police unions are again asking for clarification. Trade unionist Carlo Mido believes that the minister must take responsibility and draw his own conclusions.
The police have tight security at the Van Quickenborn home since it was targeted by criminal gangs. It was for this reason that the liberal minister had to go into hiding for some time.
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