Jump to content

Frank Creyelman: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Edit translated from the Dutch Wikipedia article nl:Frank Creyelman see its history for attribution
Line 26: Line 26:
| constituency3 = [[Antwerp Province]]
| constituency3 = [[Antwerp Province]]


| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]<br> [[Vlaams Belang]] (-2023)
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]<br> (2023-)
| otherparty = [[Vlaams Belang]] (2004-2023)</br>[[Vlaams Blok]] (1978-2004)


|relatives= [[Steven Creyelman]] (brother)
|relatives= [[Steven Creyelman]] (brother)
}}
}}


==Biography==
⚫
'''Frank Beno Mariano Creyelman'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051114/http://www.elections.fgov.be/fileadmin/user_upload/Elections2003/fr/listes/senat_college_neerlandais.pdf Algemene informatie - Kandidaat-titularissen - verkiezingen senaat 2003]; [[Federal Public Service Interior]]</ref> (born 10 August 1961) is a Belgian politician. He was expelled from [[Vlaams Belang]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122811/http://theater.ua.ac.be/nevb/html/Creyelman,%20Frank.html Biography of Frank Creyelman], {{ill| Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging|nl}}</ref> Between 1995 and 1999 he served as a member of the [[Flemish Parliament]]; between 1999 and 2007 as a member of the senate and between 2007 and 2014 again as member of the Flemish Parliament. He is the brother of fellow Vlaams Belang politician [[Steven Creyelman]].<ref>[https://www.vlaamsparlement.be/vlaamse-volksvertegenwoordigers/1769 Biography of Frank Creyelman]; [[Flemish Parliament]]</ref>


⚫
'''Frank Beno Mariano Creyelman'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051114/http://www.elections.fgov.be/fileadmin/user_upload/Elections2003/fr/listes/senat_college_neerlandais.pdf Algemene informatie - Kandidaat-titularissen - verkiezingen senaat 2003]; [[Federal Public Service Interior]]</ref> (born 10 August 1961) is a Belgian politician. Between 1995 and 1999 he served as a member of the [[Flemish Parliament]]; between 1999 and 2007 as a member of the senate and between 2007 and 2014 again as member of the Flemish Parliament. He is the brother of fellow Vlaams Belang politician [[Steven Creyelman]].<ref>[https://www.vlaamsparlement.be/vlaamse-volksvertegenwoordigers/1769 Biography of Frank Creyelman]; [[Flemish Parliament]]</ref> He was expelled from [[Vlaams Belang]] in 2023 after an investigation uncovered spying links to China.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122811/http://theater.ua.ac.be/nevb/html/Creyelman,%20Frank.html Biography of Frank Creyelman], {{ill| Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging|nl}}</ref>
⚫
Creyelman is known for his sympathies for the dictatorship in Russia.<ref>[https://www.bloggen.be/penris/archief.php?ID=2487968 List of newspaper articles about Creyelman] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220914200818/https://www.bloggen.be/penris/archief.php?ID=2487968 archived] on 14 September 2022)</ref> As faction leader of the Vlaams Belang, he was against arms supply from Belgium to Ukraine during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in early 2022. His statements were met with indignation.<ref>[https://www.hln.be/mechelen/uitspraken-van-frank-creyelman-in-russische-media-over-wapenlevering-aan-oekraine-zet-kwaad-bloed-bij-mechelse-stadslijst-dit-is-totaal-on-mechels~a477226f/ Uitspraken van Frank Creyelman in Russische media over wapenlevering aan Oekraïne zet kwaad bloed bij Mechelse Stadslijst: “Dit is totaal on-Mechels] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220509100711/https://www.hln.be/mechelen/uitspraken-van-frank-creyelman-in-russische-media-over-wapenlevering-aan-oekraine-zet-kwaad-bloed-bij-mechelse-stadslijst-dit-is-totaal-on-mechels~a477226f/ archived] on 9 May 2022)</ref>


==Biography==
⚫
On 15 December 2023, a joint investigation by [[Financial Times|''Financial Times'']], [[Der Spiegel|''Der Spiegel'']] and [[Le Monde|''Le Monde'']] revealed that Creyelman accepted bribes from China's [[Ministry of State Security (China)|Ministry of State Security]] for three years to influence discussions within the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=15 December 2023 |title=Chinese spies recruited European politician in operation to divide west |url=https://www.ft.com/content/601df41f-8393-46ad-9f74-fe64f8ea1a3f |url-access=subscription |work=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> Subsequently, Vlaams Belang expelled him from the party.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231215_93303453 |title=Vlaams Belang zet Frank Creyelman uit partij na onthullingen over spionage voor China |date=15 December 2023 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |language=nl}}</ref> However, he could not be prosecuted due to loopholes in Belgium's outdated penal code. His brother Steven Creyelman was also investigated but no sufficient evidence was found. As a result, Steven Creyelman announced he would withdraw himself as a candidate for the party at the next election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgium suspected China spy but was unable to prosecute |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b855b255-551a-4415-9ff4-9ae28764dfdf |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref>
Creyelman studied degrees in humanities and modern languages in [[Mechelen]] before working in the gaming industry for a number of years.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122811/http://theater.ua.ac.be/nevb/html/Creyelman,%20Frank.html Biografie Frank Creyelman] in de [[Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging]]</ref>

He first got involved in politics as a member of the [[Order of Flemish Militants]] (VMO) in 1979 and later became a member of the [[Vlaams Blok]] and served as vice-chairman of the party in Mechelen from 1989 to 1991. He was also a municipal councilor in Mechelen for the party. During the first direct elections to the Flemish Parliament in the [[1995 Belgian regional elections]], he was elected for the Mechelen-Turnhout electoral constituency and was coopted as a Senator in 1999. He was subsequently reelected when the constituency became the Antwerp district and served chairman of the Commission for Foreign Policy, European Affairs and International Cooperation in the Flemish Parliament.<ref>[https://tractotheque.blogspot.com/2014/05/hainaut-2014-faire-place-nette.html]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20221108130457/https://tractotheque.blogspot.com/2014/05/hainaut-2014-faire-place-nette.html Gearchiveerd] op 8 november 2022</ref>; die lijst haalde 2% en hij raakte niet verkozen.<ref>[https://elections2014.belgium.be/nl/cha/results/results_graph_CKC53053.html]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220818084139/https://elections2014.belgium.be/nl/cha/results/results_graph_CKC53053.html Gearchiveerd] op 18 augustus 2022</ref>

⚫
During his time in politics, Creyelman became known for his sympathies for the Russian government and visited Moscow to meet with representatives of Putin.<ref>[https://www.bloggen.be/penris/archief.php?ID=2487968 List of newspaper articles about Creyelman] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220914200818/https://www.bloggen.be/penris/archief.php?ID=2487968 archived] on 14 September 2022)</ref> As faction leader of the Vlaams Belang in Mechelen, he was also against arms supply from Belgium to Ukraine during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in early 2022. His statements were met with indignation.<ref>[https://www.hln.be/mechelen/uitspraken-van-frank-creyelman-in-russische-media-over-wapenlevering-aan-oekraine-zet-kwaad-bloed-bij-mechelse-stadslijst-dit-is-totaal-on-mechels~a477226f/ Uitspraken van Frank Creyelman in Russische media over wapenlevering aan Oekraïne zet kwaad bloed bij Mechelse Stadslijst: “Dit is totaal on-Mechels] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220509100711/https://www.hln.be/mechelen/uitspraken-van-frank-creyelman-in-russische-media-over-wapenlevering-aan-oekraine-zet-kwaad-bloed-bij-mechelse-stadslijst-dit-is-totaal-on-mechels~a477226f/ archived] on 9 May 2022)</ref> Some his of his pro-Russian statements were criticised by Vlaams Belang leader [[Tom Van Griken]] who distanced the party from them.<ref>[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220409_92505614]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220509100710/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220409_92505614 Gearchiveerd] op 9 mei 2022</ref>

==Chinese spying scandal==
⚫
On 15 December 2023, a joint investigation by [[Financial Times|''Financial Times'']], [[Der Spiegel|''Der Spiegel'']] and [[Le Monde|''Le Monde'']] revealed that Creyelman accepted bribes from China's [[Ministry of State Security (China)|Ministry of State Security]] for three years to influence discussions within the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=15 December 2023 |title=Chinese spies recruited European politician in operation to divide west |url=https://www.ft.com/content/601df41f-8393-46ad-9f74-fe64f8ea1a3f |url-access=subscription |work=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> Subsequently, Vlaams Belang expelled him from the party.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231215_93303453 |title=Vlaams Belang zet Frank Creyelman uit partij na onthullingen over spionage voor China |date=15 December 2023 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]] |language=nl}}</ref> However, Creyelman was investigated by police but he could not be prosecuted due to loopholes in Belgium's penal code. His brother [[Steven Creyelman]] was also interviewed and probed by Belgian security services after a series of texts were uncovered in which Frank Creyelman had messaged him assignment requests due to his brother's role as chairman of the Committee for Army Procurement, but no sufficient evidence was found of Steven Creyelman having direct links to China. As a result, Steven Creyelman distanced himself from his brother's scandals but announced he would withdraw himself as a candidate for Vlaams Belang at the next election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgium suspected China spy but was unable to prosecute |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b855b255-551a-4415-9ff4-9ae28764dfdf |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:42, 6 May 2024

Frank Creyelman
City councillor in Mechelen
Incumbent
Assumed office
1994
Member of the Belgian Senate
In office
1999–2007
Member of the Flemish Parliament
In office
1995–1999
ConstituencyMechelen-Turnhout
In office
2007–2014
ConstituencyAntwerp Province
Personal details
Born
Frank Beno Mariano Creyelman

(1961-08-10) August 10, 1961 (age 63)
Dendermonde, Belgium
Political partyIndependent
(2023-)
Other political
affiliations		Vlaams Belang (2004-2023)
Vlaams Blok (1978-2004)
RelativesSteven Creyelman (brother)

Biography

Frank Beno Mariano Creyelman[1] (born 10 August 1961) is a Belgian politician. Between 1995 and 1999 he served as a member of the Flemish Parliament; between 1999 and 2007 as a member of the senate and between 2007 and 2014 again as member of the Flemish Parliament. He is the brother of fellow Vlaams Belang politician Steven Creyelman.[2] He was expelled from Vlaams Belang in 2023 after an investigation uncovered spying links to China.[3]

Biography

Creyelman studied degrees in humanities and modern languages in Mechelen before working in the gaming industry for a number of years.[4]

He first got involved in politics as a member of the Order of Flemish Militants (VMO) in 1979 and later became a member of the Vlaams Blok and served as vice-chairman of the party in Mechelen from 1989 to 1991. He was also a municipal councilor in Mechelen for the party. During the first direct elections to the Flemish Parliament in the 1995 Belgian regional elections, he was elected for the Mechelen-Turnhout electoral constituency and was coopted as a Senator in 1999. He was subsequently reelected when the constituency became the Antwerp district and served chairman of the Commission for Foreign Policy, European Affairs and International Cooperation in the Flemish Parliament.[5]; die lijst haalde 2% en hij raakte niet verkozen.[6]

During his time in politics, Creyelman became known for his sympathies for the Russian government and visited Moscow to meet with representatives of Putin.[7] As faction leader of the Vlaams Belang in Mechelen, he was also against arms supply from Belgium to Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. His statements were met with indignation.[8] Some his of his pro-Russian statements were criticised by Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Griken who distanced the party from them.[9]

Chinese spying scandal

On 15 December 2023, a joint investigation by Financial Times, Der Spiegel and Le Monde revealed that Creyelman accepted bribes from China's Ministry of State Security for three years to influence discussions within the European Union.[10] Subsequently, Vlaams Belang expelled him from the party.[11] However, Creyelman was investigated by police but he could not be prosecuted due to loopholes in Belgium's penal code. His brother Steven Creyelman was also interviewed and probed by Belgian security services after a series of texts were uncovered in which Frank Creyelman had messaged him assignment requests due to his brother's role as chairman of the Committee for Army Procurement, but no sufficient evidence was found of Steven Creyelman having direct links to China. As a result, Steven Creyelman distanced himself from his brother's scandals but announced he would withdraw himself as a candidate for Vlaams Belang at the next election.[12]

References

  1. ^ Algemene informatie - Kandidaat-titularissen - verkiezingen senaat 2003; Federal Public Service Interior
  2. ^ Biography of Frank Creyelman; Flemish Parliament
  3. ^ Biography of Frank Creyelman, Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging [nl]
  4. ^ Biografie Frank Creyelman in de Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging
  5. ^ [1]. Gearchiveerd op 8 november 2022
  6. ^ [2]. Gearchiveerd op 18 augustus 2022
  7. ^ List of newspaper articles about Creyelman (archived on 14 September 2022)
  8. ^ Uitspraken van Frank Creyelman in Russische media over wapenlevering aan Oekraïne zet kwaad bloed bij Mechelse Stadslijst: “Dit is totaal on-Mechels (archived on 9 May 2022)
  9. ^ [3]. Gearchiveerd op 9 mei 2022
  10. ^ "Chinese spies recruited European politician in operation to divide west". Financial Times. 15 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Vlaams Belang zet Frank Creyelman uit partij na onthullingen over spionage voor China". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 15 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Belgium suspected China spy but was unable to prosecute". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
Stub icon

This article about a Flemish politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Creyelman&oldid=1222594864"