Insulting a politician in Tournai can set you back 350 euros

Tournai Burgomaster Paul-Olivier Delannois reached an accord on the matter with the judicial authorities. Social media are a popular platform these days used by people to target their local mayor or politicians in general. The Ghent Mayor Daniel Termont has been confronted with insults on various occasions, but does not support Tournai's decision: "I am often the victim of verbal abuse, just like many of my colleagues, but imposing fines is a bridge too far."

"Citizens are making more audacious and bold statements on social media. It seems that people can't voice their frustrations in a decent way any longer, but I think nuisance fines are not the right way to tackle this. I also experience that if you keep your calm and you answer them back in a decent and polite manner, they tend to calm down and take a lower profile. It seems to be a kind of anger that flares up at first, but that eases next."

Burgomaster Michel Doomst of Gooik (Flemish Brabant) also thinks the fines are one step too far. "I think it comes with the function. You know beforehand that this can happen. It would be better to focus on how we can best handle the media, democracy and our own expectations rather than take a repressive approach with local nuisance fines."