The murder of elected, by a young man who wanted to avenge his far comes at a time when violence against politicians is growing.
The assassination, on evening of Monday, 11 September, of burgomaster (mayor) of Mouscron, Alfred Gadenne, 71 years old, has sown consternation in Belgium. The elected of Centre démocrate humaniste (CDH) has been slain in cemetery of Luingne, a village in municipality close to French border. Nathan D., a young man of 18 years was waiting for him, while, as every night, in a sort of ritual known to all, Mr. Gadenne was about to close gates. Nathan D. has himself called police and explained that re was nothing more to do to save his victim.
According to first elements of investigation, young man intended to avenge his far, a former municipal employee, who had committed suicide in 2016, after his dismissal. According to public prosecutor of Tournai, Nathan D. would have long premeditated his project, waiting to be of legal age to pass act and not to involve his mor. “It is a tragedy that was followed by anor drama,” says his lawyer. A psychiatric evaluation will determine degree of fault of murderer.
Son and grandson of mayor, Mr. Gadenne has been open since 2006. He had succeeded to one of his fellow party members, Jean-Pierre Detremmerie. It has been excluded from CDH in 2009 due to legal troubles and committed suicide seven years later.
” Antipolitisme “
In 2014, Mr. Gadenne has abandoned its mandate of deputy of regional Wallonia to devote himself exclusively to a city where he enjoyed a very great popularity. Friendly, consensual in character, to be a good manager, mayor was appreciated not only in Wallonia, but Flanders and in North, two regions, all close to Mouscron, with which it maintained good relations and developed projects. Martine Aubry, mayor of Lille, has hailed his memory as most belgian politicians.
Shocked by death of ir colleague, se officials have, since Monday, witnessed multiplication of threats against m. “Our country sliding-t-he in antipolitisme more primary, physical attacks to key ? “, he asked, on Wednesday, daily La Libre Belgique. “The drama of Mouscron doesn’t surprise me at all,” says, in any case, Willy Demeyer, mayor PS of Cork, evoking a real danger linked to rising tensions. He explains, having himself been threatened on various occasions.
Scandals
Raoul Hedebouw, a member of labour Party (PTB, radical left) has been attacked in Cork on 1st of may by a man who was injured with a knife. Or leaders evoke insults and name-calling in which y are regularly subjected, during ir public appearances or on social networks.
The multiplication of scandals, which have in particular hit PS Liège and Brussels, but also reform Movement (MR) of prime minister, Charles Michel, contributes to this poisonous climate. And recent conflict between PS and CDH, which will govern over all Wallonia but are forced to remain allies in Brussels, adds to confusion and anger.
Coincidence ? One of leading socialists of first plan, former vice-prime minister PS Laurette Onkelinx came as a surprise Wednesday, announcing its next withdrawal from public life. In tears, she spoke of her dismay at a democracy for belgian as it deems ” broken “. A formula taken from one of his old colleagues, Joëlle Milquet (CDH), also ex-vice-prime minister and president of party. Ms. Milquet, mentioned in a record of employment alleged fictitious within his former firm, has recently indicated that it would not seek a mandate municipal, or national.
