Ex-PM Verhofstadt Avoids Penalty for Running Red Light, Citing ‘State of Service’

Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (73) has escaped punishment for running a red light in Bruges after a traffic court granted him a suspension of sentencing, citing his “important state of service, including as a politician.” The ruling has reignited a fierce debate about class justice in Belgium.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the incident occurred on the evening of April 27, 2025, on the ring road of Bruges. Verhofstadt drove through a red light that had been signaling for 29 seconds, traveling at 27 km/h (17 mph). The offense was a third-degree traffic violation.

The Court’s Reasoning

Verhofstadt did not attend the hearing in person but was represented by advocate Christine Mussche, who submitted a letter from the former prime minister apologizing for the offense. Mussche argued for a “suspension of sentencing” (opschorting van straf) — a legal mechanism under Belgian law where the court finds the defendant guilty but imposes no penalty.

As HLN reported in its detailed account of the ruling, the judge’s written motivation explicitly stated: “The court also takes into account the important state of service of the defendant, including as a politician.” The ruling further noted that Verhofstadt has held a driver’s license for 52 years with a clean criminal record, and that he had expressed genuine remorse in his letter to the court.

“It is plausible that the defendant ignored the red light out of sheer absent-mindedness,” the judge wrote. “From the letter sent by the defendant to the judge on May 4, 2026, it appears that he fully realizes that he could have endangered other road users.”

The Defense Argument

Mussche told the court that Verhofstadt, who recently published a book and remains active in European organizations, feared the negative publicity a conviction would bring. “We fear the negative publicity that a punishment would bring,” she said, as cited by Redactie24. “My client is, by the way, still incredibly active. A conviction would really be a stain.”

Verhofstadt was ordered to pay court costs of €33.41. If he commits no new offenses within one year, the conviction will not be entered on his criminal record.

Class Justice Debate Reignited

The explicit reference to Verhofstadt’s political career as a mitigating factor has drawn widespread criticism, with many accusing the court of “klassenjustitie” (class justice). The HLN article generated hundreds of comments, with readers expressing outrage over what they perceive as a two-tier justice system.

Legal experts and criminologists have noted that while the suspension mechanism is legally available to all first-time offenders, the explicit mention of political service as a mitigating factor is highly unusual. Criminal lawyer Davina Simons previously told Knack that she has no doubt class justice exists in Belgium.

The controversy has also sparked a notable trend in traffic courts. According to HLN, lawyers in the Ghent traffic court are increasingly requesting suspensions for their clients, using the argument: “If Guy Verhofstadt gets it, why not my client?”

Verhofstadt’s Legacy

Guy Verhofstadt served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008, leading three successive governments. He later served as an MEP and leader of the ALDE group in the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, and was a key figure in Brexit negotiations as the European Parliament’s Brexit Coordinator. He retired from active politics in 2024.

For a politician who built his career on reform and transparency, the case has become an awkward footnote. His lawyer acknowledged they feared the “negative publicity” of a conviction — a concern that has now materialized in a different form, as the case dominates headlines and fuels a broader debate about equality before the law in Belgium.

What’s Next

The case raises fundamental questions about whether an ordinary citizen with a 52-year clean driving record and a sincere apology would have received the same treatment. As the “klassenjustitie” debate intensifies, legal observers are watching to see whether this case will prompt broader discussions about judicial reform and consistency in sentencing across Belgian traffic courts.

Verhofstadt himself has not publicly commented on the ruling since the news broke.