Observers in Brussels often complain that the capital of the European Union is sometimes boring. Maybe because there aren't many affairs or sex scandals. But there are things in Brussels too, only things happen behind closed doors and mostly nothing gets to the public. But that has also changed now - thanks to the corona.
After the introduction of the second lockdown at the end of October, a night-time curfew is in force in Belgium, and gatherings of more than four people are prohibited. In principle, everyone is allowed to invite only one person from another household - to hang out, with or without sex. Physical contact is currently legal in Belgium, so only in the closest family, i.e. circle of acquaintances.
Violation of peace and order at night...
The Belgian police went into action on foot during the night hours of last Friday. The place for which they received a tip about the (illegal) assembly is located in Rue des Pierres, not far from the main police station. There are also many bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, and that neighborhood is also known as the center of the Brussels gay scene. Neighbors complained about a "nocturnal breach of the peace" and the police went to the apartment on the first floor, which is located just above a bar that is currently closed.
Police officers on the spot found about twenty people at a "private party" - the Belgian media write that it was an "orgy". In media reports, it can be read that the party participants were scantily clad and that they were mostly men. The police recorded their identities in accordance with standard procedure. Two men gave the police officers their diplomatic passports. The police officers also issued fines on the spot, stopped the illegal party and ordered the participants to disperse.
But one of those present tried to escape, and in a spectacular, almost cinematic way: "A passer-by told the police that he saw a man who tried to escape down the gutter. His hands were bloody, perhaps from trying to escape. Drugs were found in his backpack, and he had no documents with him. Later, with the help of a diplomatic passport, he was identified in his apartment as SJ" - this is stated in the statement of the State Prosecutor's Office describing what actually happened on the night from Friday to Saturday. Brussels media write about a "naked fugitive", some other media mention a "naked EU member" running from the police down the gutter.
"Naked MP..."
Who really is SJ? It is about Jožef Šajer, a long-time member of the ruling Hungarian party Fidesz and a close associate of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Šajer once became widely known as the combative leader of the parliamentary group of his political group in the European Parliament. He was often known to verbally clash with critics over Fidesz's disputed membership in the European People's Party (EPP).
In the meantime, Šajer published an official statement in which he apologized for the mistake in his steps, that is, for attending an illegal party: "I deeply regret that I broke the covid-rules, it was irresponsible. I will pay the prescribed fine."
The Hungarian politician also apologized to his family, his colleagues, and his voters and asked them to see his mistake in the context of 30 years of "serious political work", i.e. not to attribute that mistake to his country or his party - but only to him. Šajer also admitted that the police found ecstasy pills with him. However, he denied having anything to do with illegal drugs.
Illegal sex party
That admission also offered an explanation for the move that preceded last weekend - Šajer unexpectedly announced that he was resigning and retiring - a statement was sent to journalists who follow events in the European Union. The text states that he decided on that move "for personal reasons", and mentions the regret of his colleagues from the European Parliament. Participating in the daily political struggle, the press release states, has been "increasingly stressful" for some time, the Hungarian MP wrote. At that moment, almost no one could even guess that the real reason for the withdrawal was that Šajer attended an illegal sex party, where he obviously wanted to relax from the intense stress during the corona-lockdown. It was only on Tuesday that the background of the whole story became known - which was commented on Twitter by numerous critics of the conservative politician and his party, and with a considerable amount of malice.
Some other commentators on social networks accuse Šajer of "hypocrisy", that is, that he enjoys a promiscuous sex life in Brussels, while undermining the rights of the LGBT community at home in Hungary. It was Šajer who was involved in the work on changing the Constitution in 2011, it is claimed that he wrote the sentence that defines marriage in Hungary as "a relationship between a man and a woman".
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party have been advocating for years the preservation of so-called "Christian values", i.e. the protection of the traditional family, and they attack LGBT rights as a figment of the Western liberal way of thinking - which should be fought against. Jožef Šajer is married to a famous Hungarian lawyer, she works as a judge in the Supreme Court - they also have one daughter.
The Fidesz party commented on the resignation of its well-known member on Facebook on Monday, but did not mention his private sex life. According to the announcement, Šajer made a decisive contribution to "Hungarian civil conservatism and Christian democracy finding their rightful place on the European political scene". It actually sounded like a political obituary.
Broke...
On Tuesday, after the public found out what happened, after the scandal broke, suddenly Fidesz changed the tone of its communication - and radically. The parliamentary group in which Šajer was active commented that the Hungarian MP "made the only correct decision". It is added that this decision has been accepted, and an apology to the family and voters has been received.
Thus Šajer's political career was de facto brought to an end. The shame and ridicule to which one of their MPs was exposed eventually became too much of a burden for Fidesz.
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