The far-right party Vlaams Belang’s Executive Committee has expelled the former MP Frank Creyelman after international media reported that the Chinese intelligence service had used him as an informant for several years. Vlaams Belang’s leader Tom Van Grieken announced Mr Creyelman’s “immediate” expulsion from the party in a post on the social media platform X, the former Twitter.
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Far-right party expels former MP accused of working for Chinese intelligence
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The Financial Times, Le Monde and Der Spiegel report that for more than three years Chinese spies used Frank Creyelman as an informant in an effort to influence policy in favour of Beijing. They base their assertion on hundreds of leaked chat messages and texts.
The newspapers and magazine report that Daniel Woo, a member of staff at the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s Spying Agency put Frank Creyelman under pressure to influence the debate in Europe on issues such as Hong Kong and the persecution of the Uighurs.
“Completely unacceptable”
In a statement Vlaams Belang’s leader Tom Van Grieken said that Mr Creyelman having been influenced by a Chinese spy “is completely unacceptable. This is miles apart from what our nationalism stands for”. "His behaviour is completely unacceptable and is contrary to the aims and reason for being of our party”. He added that Mr Creyelman never in any way was able to influence the party’s stance on China.
At Mr Van Grieken’s request the party’s Executive Committee has now expelled Frank Creyelman with immediate effect.
Already issues with the party leadership
There were already issues between Frank Creyelmans and the party leadership. The former MP and Mechelen city counsellor’s stance on Russia being a case in point.
In the past Mr Van Grieken had said that it would be better if Frank Creyelman “did the honourable thing”. Mr Creyelman had already said that he would not be standing at next year’s elections.