CD&V-TOP seems willing to put the crem out of party: « He almost seemed proud of discrimination »

CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi seems willing to withdraw the party card of former minister Pieter de Crem. In an interview with Sunday he elaborates on the discriminatory registration policy of Mayor De Crem in Aalter in East Flanders. Pano and The morning revealed that people with a strange last name have to wait much longer before they are domiciled in the municipality. « It is good that Hilde (Crevits, competent minister, ed.) Has requested an audit immediately, » says Mahdi. « If it shows – and let us be honest: those signals are there – that there was structurally discriminating, then we will collect the deontological committee of the party. »

MAHDI did not want to answer (yet) to the question whether the Crem is effectively expelled from the party. « But I’m definitely going to give my opinion. What was mostly shocked me was his attitude during the report. I can understand that a mayor wants to be strict. But that he did not show any hesitation in these practices, he hurt me a lot. He almost seemed proud of discrimination. » Within CD&V, various leaders are prepared to unload the crem. Certainly because their own ministers, such as Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden, also have to defend themselves because they could have had the Crem policy. « Pieter is no longer part of the national story that we write today, » says Mahdi.(HH)