Flemish Parliament calls Filip Dewinter (Vlaams Belang) to task: committee looks into his ties with foreign regimes | Domestic

After media reports showed that ex-Vlaams Belang politician Frank Creyelman was used as an informant by a Chinese spy for years, the name of Filip Dewinter also surfaced in recent days. Groen now wants the Deontological Commission to investigate whether the alleged actions of Dewinter, which have been reported in the media, are contrary to the code of conduct that Flemish representatives must comply with.

Through a petition addressed to chairman Liesbeth Homans, Mieke Schauvliege formally filed a complaint with the Deontological Commission of the Flemish Parliament against Vlaams Belang member of parliament and vice-chairman of parliament Filip Dewinter. “If what appears in the media is correct, then this raises serious questions. A vice-chairman of the Flemish Parliament must be above suspicion.”

“It is up to the deontological committee to consider this issue and investigate what interests Mr. Dewinter actually serves,” said Schauvliege, who also wants to hear from State Security. “Filip Dewinter is not only a member of parliament, as vice-chairman of our parliament he is at the heart of our democracy. It is such a crucial position in our parliament. Such a person should be above suspicion.”

The Deontological Commission can decide to issue a blame. That blame is then pronounced in the plenary public session. Such a blame states how the MP has violated the code of ethics. “If such a blame is expressed, it would seriously undermine the credibility of a vice-chairman of the Flemish Parliament.”