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What could happen if you throw a pie at the King?

From La Libre Belgique · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Explainer Documents & data Approved/passed
  • Belgium’s new penal code distinguishes between a pie attack that injures the head of state and one intended only to ridicule him.
  • The text says injuring the King could bring a heavier penalty than covering him in cream without causing injury.
  • It also notes, theoretically, that attacking the Queen would carry a lower criminal cost than attacking the King.

Under Belgium’s new penal code, throwing a pie at the King could carry very different consequences depending on what happens next.

If the pastry attack injures the head of state, the offender risks a serious penalty. If it amounts only to a “cream shampoo” intended to ridicule him, the punishment would be much lighter.

There is another purely theoretical lesson in the law: it would be cheaper, criminally speaking, to throw a pie at the Queen than at the King.

About this summary

Originally published by La Libre Belgique in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.