Conner Rousseau — © Fred Debrock
The satirical website ‘t Scheldt is considering stopping after a conviction in a lawsuit against Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau. The website was sentenced by the Antwerp court of first instance to 1 euro in symbolic damages due to the reputational damage caused.
Last year, Rousseau had a number of articles about his private life removed from the website in a unilateral petition. He then initiated a lawsuit, which was now ruled in his favor.
According to the verdict, the website is condemned for unfounded and insulting accusations in an article that alluded to sexual acts involving minors. The court points out that those complaints have now been dismissed. According to ‘t Scheldt there is satire, but the court refutes that. “There is nothing in the publications in question that could be classified as satirical exaggeration, irony or sarcasm.”
“This is a victory over it fake news, the lies and the hatred of the extreme right,” Rousseau said in a response. “I will always continue to fight against the extremes. The challenge on June 9 is great: extremes threaten our prosperity, freedom and security.”
‘t Scheldt talks about serious financial consequences, and announces that he will convene the editors this weekend to discuss the discontinuation.
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