Mayor De Wever nips criticism of opposition to drug violence in the bud: “We thwart more attacks than are happening” (Antwerp)
The political groups in the Antwerp municipality were on the same page about one point in the drug debate. They all testify to their condolences to the family of 11-year-old Firdaous. They died at the beginning of January due to a shooting incident in Merksem.
Opposition parties contribute somewhat sharper than the Antwerp majority parties Vooruit and Open Vld. But the accompanying message to De Wever was to work more closely with the various authorities. It was also clear that the Antwerp factions that are in the federal majority, several times in the fight against the drug mafia of the Vivaldi ruling defense.
Brussels and Antwerp
“Be a mayor and not a party chairman, who will rebel against the federal government,” says Green party leader Ilse van Dienderen. “However, you are a crack at putting the blame on others. However, after the girl’s death, we should all draw the same thing.”
CD&V party leader Nahima Lanjri also called for cooperation. “It is not true that Brussels does not listen to Antwerp. Stop shuffling the Black Pete. Consult and work together, because that is crucial.”
Comparable, universal in more general terms, can be heard with the Antwerp majority parties Vooruit and Open Vld, which are also federally in government. “At the federal level, more than ever is consumed in the police and the judiciary,” said Hicham El Mzairh (Vooruit). Open Vld party leader Claude Marinow repeated the call for more cooperation.
Injustice
De Wever has wrongly attacked himself. The mayor is likely to be devastated by the local police, the federal judicial police and the prosecutor’s office. “There are countless confrontations with the federal government.” He has acknowledged that his round of justice and the arrival of a dock corps have been carried out.
“Is this enough? No, this is not enough,” said De Wever. “I outline the availability here and do not play a black piet. An 11-year-old child has been rescued. I am surprised that there is not yet a great urgency to this national crisis.
Then a few weeks ago he was busy with the port of Rotterdam and his trip to the United States. “You now accuse me of Calimero for playing? Do you think this is appropriate at this time? Real? This is very inappropriate.” De Wever is not waiting for the Federal Government’s Administrative Enforcement Act to be approved last week. “I really hope this law does not pass. It would be a step backwards for us.”
Ultimately, De Wever pointed out that more drug-related attacks are thwarted than can be assumed. “The number of suspects caught is impressive. Unfortunately, the number of people who can come from the Netherlands to confuse these kinds of facts is anything but to carry out. I hardly dare to tell you how many attacks have not been thwarted because we caught the perpetrators in advance,” says De Wever. According to De Wever, six people were arrested last week before they could commit an attack. In this way, two attacks were thwarted.
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