“If you really judge people based on their origins, then you are racist,” says Depraetere in Gert Verhulst’s talk show. “But I have heard friends and enemies say about Tom that he is absolutely not that,” said the Vooruit chairman. “He continuously helps people from all kinds of communities. He also lives in a neighborhood with a lot of diversity. He is not a racist, I am convinced of that.”
“As a politician you have an exemplary role and you should know that you are not allowed to make those kinds of statements,” Depraetere said. Tom Meeuws resigned as alderman last week and immediately announced his intention to leave politics completely. Meeuws himself stated that he was “tired”, but after his dismissal stories surfaced about possibly inappropriate comments addressed to fellow councilors Nabilla Ait Daoud (N-VA), among others.
During a meeting of the Special Committee for Social Services, Meeuws is said to have referred to Ait Daoud as “the macro ships”. During the weekly meeting between the three Antwerp Vooruit aldermen and the local party department, Meeuws was confronted about it, according to local chairman Sascha Luyckx, but he allegedly denied the facts there. Meeuws resigned with immediate effect on February 11.
Depraetere had intensive contacts with the Antwerp department for a week and will soon personally visit the Scheldt city. Depraetere now thinks the time is ripe to go to Antwerp herself, the party leadership told reporters on Monday. She wants to ensure that the department continues to operate as one group.
Earlier on Monday it was announced that Tom Meeuws will be succeeded in the Antwerp city council by Kathleen Van Brempt. She will take the oath on Monday.
