While the rules about wearing mouth masks are tightened across the country, the biggest opponents of this are coming together this Saturday in Aalter – not coincidentally the municipality of Minister Pieter De Crem (CD&V). About 190 people are expected there. “But we’ll stick to the rules around mouth masks,” they promise.
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The 190 Belgians gather for what will be the founding meeting of ‘viruswaanzin.be’, an association modeled on the Dutch protest movement. They oppose a second lockdown, and a mouth mask obligation. The founders are a diverse group: entrepreneurs who fear that a lockdown will damage the economy, but also one man who does not seem to believe in the existence of viruses.
At the meeting three members of the Dutch group Viruswaanzin will speak.
It is no coincidence that they chose a party hall in Pieter De Crem’s Aalter. Acting mayor Patrick Hoste (CD&V) is bored with it. “But the law does provide for a right to assemble, and a right to free speech. If they stick to the measures, we can’t stop them. “
Moreover, control is difficult, Hoste knows: ‘It is a private meeting. We cannot just enter the hall. “
‘Mondmasker op’
According to the guidelines of the crisis center, an association can meet with 50 people. But viruswaanzin.be has hired the party room for a banquet. Food is served at the table, which allows up to 200 people.
“We will follow the rules that the government imposes for public meetings: keep a distance, and put on a mouth mask if we have to go to the toilet,” promises lawyer Michael Verstraeten. “We are Democrats. We also limit the meeting to 190 people. Everyone had to register in advance, and we are fully booked. “
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