Jiri De Laet responds in open letter: “Character murder by Open Vld” (Antwerp)
It pains me especially that a party to which I have been loyal for years, openly pilloried me in its own interest. A slap in the face in particular caused by MP Willem-Frederik Schiltz and Open Vld chairman Egbert Lachaert. They both supposedly carry the liberal and humane ideas into law, but they choose to publicly disgrace me as a person, including a citizen, to violate my right to privacy and also to work. All this, nor I am not a public figure a political head exercise. This is an irrevocable violation of my rights, an attack on my person with the reputational damage. A new character kill that falls Open Vld ten turns.
“From confidant to persona non grata”
As a great sympathizer, later a militant and later a member of Open Vld, I have been selflessly and tirelessly committed to the interest of the party for decades. In 2019, for example, I helped hundreds of hours without pay in Mr Schiltz’s campaign to put him back in the saddle in the elections for the Flemish Parliament as the number three candidate in the province of Antwerp. Later I worked day and night as a parliamentary assistant for Schiltz. Here too I fought tirelessly for the ideals of the party.
I am therefore surprised to read that it supposedly “went wrong very quickly”. In this last year I made every effort to help guide the aldermen that were on the table for Open Vld within the City of Antwerp, at the request of the experiences. This is still in view of two aldermen’s offices for Open Vld in this beautiful city of Antwerp.
After certain prescribed knowledge of Mr. Schiltz, I started preparing for future aldermen Caluwaerts in mid-2021, where after a lecture at CBS (College of Mayor and Aldermen) with my “severe criminal record” I was appointed as chief of staff of the latter. The presentation of a certificate of good conduct can be carried out. Ditto for the position of parliamentary assistant for Schiltz. “A hefty criminal record” certainly purely on gossip and is cited to damage my reputation and on purpose.
“The honor to myself”
Until now I am not myself by the party Open Vld and this party fails to hear or inform me. I am therefore rightly indignant that Mr Lachaert is saying in the press that he is knocking me out. This is what I offered my resignation before the media frenzy around person last week, as a resignation board member within Open Vld Antwerp district. It will not surprise you that I keep the honor and also leave the Open Vld game itself as a lid. This is because I can no longer accept the ideas and the lines that this party sets under the game of Mr. Lachaert.
He is failing in his duties as chairman to hear and inform me as a person. This only when I exercise my right to free choice of employment. For years I was good enough as a sympathizer, militant and member until my name was suddenly given by the media to Mrs Sihame El Kaouakibi later I am considered persona non grata. This once again indicates that Open Vld tries to wash hands in innocence and even commits a character assassination on a non-public person.
“My privacy is being violated”
In addition, there is an employment contract with the Flemish Parliament. This also immediately brought to light how the house of Flemish democracy deals with information and personal information. The privacy law is handled carelessly here, which was the showpiece of Open Vld in the past.
It is a disgrace that inhumane killings are being done without any agreement let alone a general framework within which Mr Lachaert and Open Vld can work, or that I would ever have inflicted the party. A liberal party that publicly ousts an ordinary man, loyal party militant, knowing what position of power they have over a citizen. A liberal party that disrespects separation of powers and innocent until proven guilty. That is not worthy of a liberal party, representative or chairman. I can no longer commit myself to that and associate myself with it any longer.