Last week it became known that Frank Creyelman, former MP for Vlaams Belang, allowed himself to be used by the Chinese intelligence services for years for payment. These revelations also put his younger brother Steven Creyelman in the spotlight. He was mentioned in the text messages that Creyelman senior exchanged with his Chinese contact. He referred, among other things, to an intervention that his brother would make in parliament.
That immediately set off alarm bells in the House. Steven Creyelman is chairman of the Army Purchases Committee, where sensitive information about the Belgian army is shared. Although there is no evidence that he – through his brother or otherwise – is under the influence of the Chinese authorities, the other parties in parliament nevertheless want to be on the safe side.
Among the faction leaders, the leaders of each party in the Chamber, it was decided to ask State Security for “urgent advice”. Vlaams Belang also agreed with this – they are throwing their hands in the fire for Steven Creyelman.
A number of parties are also asking that Creyelman withdraw at least temporarily as chairman of the Army Purchases Committee until State Security has completed its investigation. “I would like to point out that the members of the committee regularly receive emails with sensitive information. That could be the case today or tomorrow,” said Wouter De Vriendt (Groen). But VB does not like that question. “They are taking a great responsibility and a great risk here,” De Vriendt added.
“The political responsibility now lies with Vlaams Belang,” says Joris Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “The presumption of innocence obviously applies here. If material evidence emerges, or advice from State Security that exposes risks, we will speak again.”
