The N-VA deputy and former Secretary of State Theo Francken was heard on Wednesday in Liège by the federal police as part of an investigation targeting the mayor of Verviers Muriel Targnion, following the cancellation of one of his conferences in February 2019 in the Cité lainière.
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The Flemish nationalist was to present one of his works at the Hotel Vandervalk-Verviers, but he ultimately canceled his lecture. His arrival had indeed provoked the strong hostility of many demonstrators, gathered at the call of the FGTB of Verviers-Ostbelgien, in particular. Bourgmestre Muriel Targnion participated in the demonstration.
On the arrival of supporters of Theo Francken, furniture from the hotel terrace had been thrown and the police had to use tear gas to avoid clashes. The car of the former secretary of state was also damaged.
Mr. Francken filed a complaint against X for these damages, while the event organizer filed a complaint against Ms. Targnion for coalition of officials, criminal association, corruption, public insults and taking interests.
Theo Francken had also asked the Minister of the Interior Pieter De Crem (CD&V) for a report from the General Police Inspectorate on the attitude of the bourgmestre, who is the head of the local police. This report concluded in particular that the presence of Muriel Targnion “had not created a favorable condition for security, making the mission of the police to ensure the maintenance of order against its own authority, more delicate or even difficult” .
For her part, Ms. Targnion had lodged a complaint against X following threats received after these events. Psychologically affected, she had been replaced for six months at the mayorate.
In recent weeks, Muriel Targnion has once again found herself in turmoil, during a two-month saga during which the local PS tore itself apart, seeing some of its elected officials resign and herself be excluded party. A new coalition is being formed with the former president of the Parliament of the French Community, Jean-François Istasse (PS), as the probable future mayor.
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