Separatist Flemish party N-VA has responded to allegations that a staff member purchased a Nazi-themed CD from a controversial Swedish online shop.
The purchase came to light when antifascist group Antifa exposed the identities of the shop's clients between 2017 and 2022. There were 33 Flemish-speaking individuals on the list, including Francis Wouters, parliamentary assistant of N-VA leader Peter De Roover. The name of another N-VA member, who was active in the far-right Vlaams Belang party until 2011, also appeared on the list.
N-VA parliamentary group has since stated that a “serious discussion” will take place within the party, although no details will be publicised due to employer-employee confidentiality.
The contentious Swedish online shop allegedly uses the proceeds of its sales to sponsor the Swedish neo-Nazi 'Nordiska motståndsrörelsen' (NMR), or 'Nordic resistance movement'. NMR is active across Scandinavia.
Els Keytsman, director of UNIA (a centre for equal opportunities), told Belga News Agency that purchasing such material is not illegal unless it is used to incite hatred or glorify Nazism. She therefore has no plans to file a complaint.
