Antwerp Mayor Accuses Groen Politician of Antisemitism
A heated political confrontation erupted in the Antwerp city council on Monday evening after Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) insinuated that Groen council member Meyrem Almaci’s questions about security camera costs in the Diamond District were motivated by antisemitism. Almaci responded furiously, declaring she would “not tolerate” the accusation.
The Dispute
The clash occurred during a city council committee meeting where Almaci questioned the financial arrangements for replacing 11 outdated camera installations in the Antwerp Diamond District (Diamantwijk), as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws. The cameras, currently managed by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), are being taken over by the city. Under the agreement, the AWDC will pay €50,000 per year (€250,000 over five years) for the upgrade, with management transferring to local police.
Almaci questioned whether the €250,000 fee was realistic and how much police manpower would be required. “Those eleven cameras are not in a residential area, but in a zone with specific diamond businesses where a lot of money circulates,” she said. “So is it not abnormal that I wonder whether €250,000 is a fair contribution?”
The Insinuation
Mayor Van Doesburg defended the collaboration with AWDC, stating the takeover by the city and police was necessary for securing both the Jewish neighborhood and the Diamond District. She noted the area had been a target of terror in the past, referencing the 1981 car bomb attack near a synagogue in the Hoveniersstraat that killed three people and wounded 106 others.
Van Doesburg then suggested Almaci was applying double standards. “I’ve never heard you ask what certain security measures cost before,” the mayor said. “Now you do, ‘because there are enough wealthy people here to pay for security themselves.’ I think the people of Antwerp understood very well what you mean here.”
Almaci’s Response
Almaci reacted with fury, calling the insinuations “misplaced and exceptionally low.” She emphasized that her faction has always supported security measures for population groups and pointed to her track record of asking similar questions about police deployment at other events.
“During budget discussions, I also asked how much the police deployment at Tomorrowland cost,” Almaci stated. “I will not tolerate your insinuations.”
She made clear that her questions were exclusively about the financing of security measures. “All the rest you added yourself,” she told the mayor. “And that says a lot about the role you want to play as mayor.”
Broader Context
The incident reflects deeper tensions in Antwerp politics. Antwerp has been governed by the N-VA since 2013 under Bart De Wever, who became Prime Minister of Belgium in February 2025. Van Doesburg succeeded De Wever as acting mayor, making her the first Dutch-born mayor of Antwerp. Groen, a left-wing green party, is in opposition.
The accusation of antisemitism is particularly sensitive in Antwerp, home to a significant Jewish community with a history of being targeted by terrorist attacks. The Diamond District, one of the world’s leading diamond trading centers, operates under an elevated security threat level. VRT NWS reported that Antwerp is investing €21 million in expanding its camera network, with 200 new cameras planned across the city.
Analysis
This exchange highlights how debates about security funding can become entangled with accusations of discrimination. Critics argue that the weaponization of antisemitism accusations risks shutting down legitimate policy discussions. The incident also underscores the political rivalry between the N-VA-led city government and Groen opposition, which has intensified since De Wever’s departure to national office.
What’s Next
It remains unclear whether either party will issue a formal response or apology. The incident is likely to further strain relations between the ruling N-VA and Groen in Antwerp, and may reignite debate about the tone of political discourse in Belgian politics. The camera surveillance project in the Diamond District is expected to proceed as planned.