After a months-long absence, Conner Rousseau (Vooruit) is making his comeback in national politics. He will push the federal list of Vooruit into East Flanders.
Rousseau resigned as party chairman in November 2023 after accusations of inappropriate behavior and racist and sexist statements in a café. He also resigned as an MP in December.
Comeback
Rousseau’s return is not unexpected. In January, Vooruit announced that a place on the list was not excluded for him. The deadline for submitting the lists is April 13, so Rousseau has now made the decision.
Rousseau will take on a symbolic role as list pusher. The chance that he will be elected is small, as the last place on the list is usually a supporting position. However, Rousseau still enjoys a lot of support within the party and may be able to obtain a seat through preferential voting.
Background
In 2023, Rousseau was discredited several times. First due to accusations of inappropriate behavior and later because he allegedly made racist and sexist statements against police officers during a drunken evening. The commotion that followed led to his resignation as party chairman.
Rousseau denied the accusations of inappropriate behavior, but acknowledged that he had made incorrect statements. He apologized and took a step back from politics.
Comments
Rousseau’s return is met with mixed reception. Some think he deserves a second chance, while others think he no longer belongs in politics. The impact of his comeback on Vooruit’s election results is unclear. Rousseau has long been a popular politician, but last year’s scandals may have damaged his image.
The return of Conner Rousseau is a remarkable event in Belgian politics. It is too early to say what the impact of his comeback will be, but it will undoubtedly create additional tension and debate in the run-up to the June 2024 elections.
