History of Codeco n°14

Press conference on June 18, 2021

614 days since the press conference of April 15, 2020, where we introduced in the room  » a politically biased question « , which  » is not the habit of journalists « , says Sophie Wilmès. The habit of journalists is to ask the questions that politicians expect and to comment on their decisions, rather than to seek the truth. The mass media do not play the role of a fourth estate, but rather manufacture consent. Not being adept at such collusion, the political power will close the doors of press conferences for more than eight months. We were not counting on our determination…

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Kairos will publish the 17 press conferences we attended. More than 20 unanswered questions. In front of them, no doubts, no questioning, no desire to understand, but a fixed, rigid end that justifies all their means.

Imagine for a moment if all these issues had been debated democratically. Do you think we would be there today?

Transcription:

-Alexandre Penasse: Just a little preamble before my question to Mr. De Croo, I have the impression that, when you speak, vaccination seems mandatory. This is not the case Mr. Vandenbroucke, is it?

-Alexander De Croo: No, it is not mandatory.

-AP: I ask because you talk about it a lot.

-ADC: No sir, vaccination is not mandatory in Belgium but it is important. It’s a nuance.

-AP: That was just a clarification. Since you, Mr. De Croo and the government experts refused to come to the Debate that we organized on June 10. I would like to announce a few points that we talked about at the time since we are in the joy of vaccination, the return to normal life, but it is still important to state a few points that I will say quickly if you let me speak…

-ADC: Sir, the point is for you to ask questions. If you have a small question to ask, ask it, but going to spout texts here is not the purpose of a press conference. If you want to do a press conference yourself, you can organize it. There may be colleagues of yours who will be coming. But in general, you ask the questions and we answer them.

-AP: But you decide what questions I can ask?

-ADC: Oh, ask a question then, go ahead. Yes, yes.

-AP: But can I introduce my question?

-ADC: It’s a bit tiring sir… If you have a question, ask it.

-AP: Okay, it’s been fifteen months since other experts have had other views that we can’t hear.

-ADC: You can hear them, sir.

-AP: If we’re talking about reconfinement, in the fall, will that have any legitimacy? Can you answer all the questions I’ve been asking for the past 15 months?

-ADC: But sir, you are invited here every time, you have the space, but ask your question…

-AP: But you never answer my question…

-ADC: You’ve been wasting everyone’s time for three minutes now.

-AP: But you never answer my question… Are you going to come and discuss with other scientists, with Mr. Martin Zizi, with Louis Fouché, with other people who have other points of view? Will you or one of your experts come and talk to someone else?

-ADC: I don’t know these people sir…

-AP: But it doesn’t matter if you know them or not. I ask you if you are going to come?

-ADC: Sir, we’re not in a place where we’re issuing invitations so I don’t know what you’re talking about…

-AP: There has been only one sound for the past 15 months.

-ADC: But not at all.

-AP: That’s what I’m talking about.

-ADC: So, can I try to answer something? In Belgium, all opinions were discussed. And even in the mainstream media, there have been people who do not believe in the vaccine at all. And who were able to talk about it. And they got a lot of space in the press and I think it’s normal that they got a lot of space in the press. What I see is that people generally don’t believe them. In general, people get vaccinated. And you know what happens? People who get vaccinated, they don’t end up in the hospital. And that’s what we see. It is that people have trusted science, and those who have trusted science, they are protected. And that’s a good thing.