The students of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege Plus in Antwerp were treated to a school debate on drugs on Monday.
Seven Antwerp leaders debated drugs and migration on Monday at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege Plus in Antwerp. During the question round afterwards, crowd favorite Ben Van Duppen (PVDA) went straight ahead.
Legalize, regulate or take a tough approach? The war on drugs is clear top of mind at the Antwerp Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege Plus (“the Jesuits”). “I suspect that some people in the room already have some experience with this,” Bart De Wever (N-VA) suggested to the students, after which he immediately broke the ice again. “But no one should point their finger in the air.”
As usual, the mayor of Antwerp is in favor of the legalization of soft drugs. Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD), Oskar Seuntjens (Vooruit) and Sam Van Rooy (Vlaams Belang) supported him. Only Meyrem Almaci (Green) and Ben Van Duppen (PVDA) had their green signs raised eagerly.
Billion dollar industry
At the very end, Van Duppen, who is leading the Antwerp PVDA list in the municipal elections, threw another bomb into the panel. If it were up to him, the government would soon grow and sell cannabis itself. “This is the only way we can avoid that business falling into the hands of a billion-dollar industry, such as alcohol and tobacco,” says Van Duppen. De Wever and Van Tigchelt then showed their disgust by gesticulating. “Pure madness,” the two party leaders judge.
After the debate, the PVDA member slowed down a bit. “We want to regulate and legalize,” the politician explained with the party position on his smartphone. That idea is closer to what Vooruit councilor Jinnih Beels suggested in April last year. “Ultimately, as a government, you also have to regulate and control the production and distribution of drugs,” the politician said at the time. Striking, because Vooruit’s party program dictates something different. Seuntjens only advocates “decriminalization and regulation”.
READ ALSO. Jinnih Beels (Vooruit) believes that the government should sell drugs: “Users should not be fined”
In any case: the students present easily crowned Van Duppen the winner of the debate. The Antwerp mayor had to make do with second place.
Tags: Government grow weed PVDA party leader surprises room full students debate drugs Antwerp
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