Media and political storm in Belgium. A photo showing Germain Dalne, a municipal councilor for the Reform Mouvement Party (MR) in Nivelles, in underwear, wrapped in a Nazi flag, has largely circulated on social networks, pushing the 26-year-old elected official to publicly apologize.
Contacted by AFP, he recognized the authenticity of the image, revealed by The futureand assured that it was “a gross error” committed “years ago during the stewardship of a scout camp”. According to him, the flag came from “a stock of reconstruction military equipment” steep with other participants. “I found myself in pants and I was put the flag on my back,” he said, evoking an evening “largely watered” and a “hazing” without “no political or ideological connotation”.
“Deeply shocking and inadmissible”
The photo, which shows it from back in blue underwear, shocked even in the political ranks. In a press release, the centrist party engaged, which leads the commune of Nivelles, denounced a “deeply shocking and inadmissible” gesture.
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“No excuse – neither the age, the context, nor the state of drunkenness – can trivialize the use of a symbol so heavy with meaning,” recalled the local antenna of the party, while calling to avoid “transforming public debate into a permanent lynching court”. This scandal puts in difficulty the young elected representative of the opposition of the reforming movement (MR), now under pressure after the broadcast of this photo which has become viral.
