“He was bought away”: Els Ampe lashes out at the transfer of ex-VRT journalist Peter Verlinden to CD&V | Domestic

In December it was announced that Verlinden would be on the list of Voor U as an independent, the party of former Open Vld MP Els Ampe. She resigned from the Liberals in September. Verlinden will now take third place among the Christian Democrats. “CD&V approached me themselves,” Verlinden responds to ‘VRT NWS’. The European level appeals to Verlinden, he says. “I can really focus on files that are close to my heart. Think of migration, relations with Africa, European conflicts and wars.”

Verlinden realizes that it is not a certainty that he will be elected to CD&V. “But even then I can pass on my substantive expertise on behalf of people from CD&V who were elected,” he said. CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi also agrees with this. “Peter Verlinden is an absolute expert in international politics, as he has proven throughout his career. It is precisely this knowledge that is particularly valuable in light of today’s geopolitical context,” he says about the switch.

The ex-journalist says he ‘still has a warm heart for you’, but has the feeling that it is a long-term project, even though he has decided to only be active for one mandate. “Then I think I can do more at CD&V. I hope my ideas can trickle down and have a real impact.”

“Thank you Peter Verlinden for the nice, but short collaboration. Good luck at CD&V. For you, we continue to fight against particracy,” Els Ampe responded to X on Thursday evening. “Different and better,” she concludes. But she was sharper in her response on Friday. According to her, Verlinden has been bought by CD&V. “For You don’t hand out support jobs like Sammy Mahdi. Each candidate convinces the voter voluntarily. Welcome to all candidates who choose the citizen and the general interest,” it continues.

Verlinden dismisses the accusations of mail-grabbing on X. “My choice is not a matter of ‘gift’/’mail’,” he writes on the ex-journalist indicates.