Peter Mertens (left), general secretary of the PVDA and list pusher in Antwerp, accuses Bart De Wever of lies. — © Belga, DBA
The PVDA wants N-VA chairman Bart De Wever to apologize for statements he made in the talk show on Wednesday evening. Gert’s Table on Play4 has done. He claimed there that the far-left party stands for “support for the Taliban”, the Islamic movement in power in Afghanistan.
Bron: BELGIAN
Today at 02:29
On the eve of the municipal elections, Bart De Wever – in addition to party chairman, also Antwerp mayor and federal formateur – was one of Gert Verhulst’s guests. He asked him for an example of an extreme position of the PVDA, which, according to polls in Antwerp, could become the second party after the N-VA.
“For example, their program still includes support for the Taliban,” De Wever replied. “They find the Taliban fight against America very important because then Venezuela and Cuba will receive less pressure from the United States. There are still things in there that make you think: which lunatic wrote that?”
“Lies”
In a response, the PVDA talks about “lies” and demands an apology. “Clashes may occur in a campaign, but only on the basis of facts. Everyone can easily verify that Mr. De Wever’s accusation is completely out of the blue,” says Peter Mertens, general secretary of the PVDA and list pusher in Antwerp. He talks about “nervous attempts by De Wever to discredit his opponents with lies” and calls for a debate “about the content”.
READ ALSO. European Union and UN criticize “disgraceful” ban on Afghan women from talking and singing in public
Mertens emphasizes that the PVDA has “always been on the side of those hunted by the Taliban” and refers to previous statements and a recent vote in the European Parliament where PVDA delegates supported a resolution calling for the erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan condemns.
