2023-12-02 05:00:29
Conner Rousseau, during the announcement of his resignation from the presidency of Vooruit, in Brussels, November 17, 2023. JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/BELGA VIA AFP
Impeccably white sneakers and an equally immaculate shirt with an unbuttoned collar: on this day in December 2019, Conner Rousseau took care of a rather unusual look for a visit to the Brussels Palace, where King Philippe is waiting for him, anxious to facilitate the set-up of a government for his country. Former head of communications for his party, who then became its president at the age of barely 26, the man whom the press quickly baptized “KingConnah” was at the time the star of a formation that he would deliver from its label considered out of date as the Flemish Socialist Party to call it Come on (“forward”), in 2021.
Thanks, in particular, to a massive presence on social networks, the young president has a string of successes, corrects the image and redresses the score of the old party founded in 1885. Asked one day regarding his ambition to become prime minister of the kingdom, the “ King” replied with a smile: ” It’s not [mon] goal, but why not. »
However, six months before the elections in Belgium, the young lawyer’s successful trajectory has taken a new turn. Conner Rousseau announced his resignation from the presidency of the party on November 17 since the revelation of remarks made during a very drunken evening in front of police officers in his town, Saint-Nicolas, in East Flanders.
Police officers threatened with reprisals
Called for a nighttime disturbance, the patrol was attacked by the politician and recorded the confrontation with a body camera. Daily life The newspapaer revealed all the details on November 16: “In my building, everyone is racist and I understand that. It’s always these tanned ones. For me, we have to tackle it harder. You need to use your batons a lot more (…) Otherwise, no respect. » “Every fucking day, there are these Roma or other Gypsies with their mattress or their fryer near the glass bubble [conteneur à verre]. You have to type. (…) There’s nothing left to do with these assholes. »
After also attacking a punk whose yellow crest is famous in the city – “You have to use the baton to hit the face of this ugly big guy” –, Conner Rousseau addressed the police, telling them: “I know that you all vote for Vlaams Belang”, the far-right party favored by the polls in Flanders for the federal legislative elections of June 2024. The agents are also threatened with reprisals: “Try to put me in a cell!” It won’t be your best day. » The scene ended with a sexist comment regarding one of his friends, who tried to calm him down.
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