A spokesperson for Vincent Van Quickenborne has dismissed the infamous "pipigate" scandal as "much ado about nothing", claiming that the Belgian Justice Minister is not responsible for his party guests' decision to urinate on a police vehicle.
Speaking to The Brussels Times, Jan Van der Cruysse added that the incident, which occurred during the Minister's 50th birthday celebrations at his home in Kortrijk on 14 August, was "regrettable" but stressed that Van Quickenborne himself has already denounced his guests' behaviour "very fiercely".
"This is now in the hands of the police," Van der Cruysse said. "And if the police thinks that this is sanctionable, by all means let's see what happens. But it isn't up to the Minister to take a position on this."
Video footage shows two men urinating on an empty police car parked outside Van Quickenborne's residence on three separate occasions during the course of the evening's festivities.
— Wetstraat out of context (@OutOfWetstraat) September 5, 2023
On Tuesday, Van Quickenborne provided a running commentary of additional footage released by public broadcaster VRT of himself and a friend standing outside the parked police car, apparently drunk, just hours after the final incident.
The Minister also defended himself against VRT's allegation that he pretends to urinate during the video, claiming instead that he was "probably playing air guitar".
Somewhat ironically, the affair was only captured on film because Van Quickenborne has been under police protection ever since he was a victim of a failed kidnapping attempt in September last year.
The episode has also severely exacerbated Van Quickenborne's fractious relationship with police unions, which have been vehemently critical of the Ghent-born politician after he successfully led efforts to raise officers' retirement age several years ago.
All mirth and no matter?
Van Quickenborne's apparent involvement in the affair has been condemned by officials from across the political spectrum.
President of the left-wing Belgian Workers' Party Raoul Hedebouw denounced Van Quickenborne's actions as illustrative of the "behaviour of a political and bourgeois elite" who "believe that the rules apply only to others".
Federal Justice Committee Chair Kristien Van Vaerenberghe of the right-wing Flemish nationalist party N-VA has also called for a hearing on Thursday during which Van Quickenborne will be asked to explain his actions.
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Van Vaerenberghe has previously affirmed her support for the police in the matter, claiming that they are "people who, day and night, provide protection and deserve the utmost respect."
"If it appears that [Van Quickenborne] has made inaccurate statements, he simply can no longer remain in office," she added.
Van der Cruysse, however, expressed confidence that the hearing will fully exonerate the Minister. "It will completely close the whole story," he said. "There is no story, actually."
