Eeklo Confidential Adviser Says Mayor Lied About Harassment Complaints

“Mayor, the truth is looking for a chair.” That was the pointed message Vera De Clercq sent to Eeklo’s municipal employees and political leadership after Mayor Koen Loete spoke publicly about complaints of bullying and inappropriate conduct.

De Clercq, who serves as the city’s confidential adviser and process facilitator, said Loete’s claim that he had received no signals, including from her, was untrue. She told VRT NWS that she sent the email to provide colleagues with correct information and to try to set something in motion.

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Mayor, the truth is looking for a chair. It is up to you to put that chair in the middle.

She said colleagues had reported the same kinds of incidents repeatedly over the past year. The reports, she added, had not come only through her. The prevention adviser, personnel department and managers had also heard complaints. De Clercq accused the administration of setting those signals aside, leaving employees without recognition of the problem.

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I think the first step must be saying sorry.

In her message, she called for the facts to be named correctly and said she hoped that would lead to apologies. She described the workplace as living in denial and said cooperation for Eeklo’s residents required more constructive conduct and mutual respect.

De Clercq said she had protected confidentiality because her message identified no person or recognizable incident. She described feeling powerless while believing that municipal employees were not sufficiently valued or heard. “I think the first step must be saying sorry,” she said, calling for a sincere acknowledgment that mistakes had occurred. She also said she hoped her decision to speak would encourage colleagues to give feedback, while recognizing that many may not feel able to do so.

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People are living in denial, and I find that particularly unfortunate.