The former leader of the Flemish socialist party, Vooruit, Conner Rousseau will have to appear in court to answer for the racist comments he made about the Roma community after all. Although the public prosecutor’s office saw no saw no need to take the politician to court, a Brussels-based non-profit organisation has subpoenaed him directly.
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Former Flemish socialist leader to appear in court to answer for his racist comments about Roma after all
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The Brussels Roma organisation Kham filed a complaint against Mr Rousseau in October, alleging incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence. According to the non-profit, the then leader of the Flemish socialists was guilty of all of the above when he made racist comments about the Roma community during a drunken night in his hometown of Sint-Niklaas.
The East Flemish public prosecutor's office ruled in November that Mr Rousseau had indeed made racist and xenophobic comments but deemed that a trial was not necessary. Instead, a mediation processes was initiated. As part of this Mr Rousseau was required to talk to his victims, visit Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen and attend sessions with a therapist on the impact of words and the use of language.
Subpoenaed directly
The Brussels-based non-profit organisation was part of that mediation process, but recently withdrew from it because it was denied access to the criminal case file. The organision’s lawer Abderrahim Lahlali told VRT News that "My client's position is very clear. Right from the outset, the non-profit organisation said that it could only participate in the reconciliation process if it knows the exact context and of what took place."
"Initially, the public prosecutor's office gave us permission to access part of the criminal case file. Then the prosecutor's office suddenly changed its tune. To be clear, this is not Mr Rousseau's fault, but that does not alter the fact that the non-profit organisation feels that the Roma community's suffering is not being recognised. This is incomprehensible to my client".
Mr Lahlali says the Kham non-profit group never met with Mr Rousseau. He adds that to his mind this means that Mr Rousseau did not complete the mediation process. In this case it was up to the prosecutor’s office to decide of whether to dismiss the case or still take it to court. As no decision has been forthcoming, the non-profit group has had a direct summons issued for the politician to appear in court at Dendermonde (East Flanders). Mr Rousseau must appear in court on 10 June, a day after the elections. He risks one year in prison.
"Mediation process completed”
Mr Rousseau has reacted with surprise to the summons "I did talk with the non-profit organisation Kham. To say that I didn’t is complete lie. I also continued to invite them for talks even when they had cancelled a prior appointment”. Mr Rousseau gave VRT News a document that appears to show that the politician and Kham’s representative Biser Akelov did indeed meet.
Mr Rousseau added that he did complete the mediation process. “I have apologised. I resigned as party leader and from parliament. I still blame myself every day for what happened. Since then, I have done everything I had to do. The public prosecutor's office has drawn up a positive final report on the process that proves I have fulfilled all the conditions that were agreed."
"Also on my own initiative, I am still in cordial dialogue with the Roma community in Sint-Niklaas. They have accepted my apologies."