A right royal row over Carnival in Aalst
Carnival is a serious business in East Flanders, and the losing candidate to become Aalst Prins Carnaval is consulting his lawyers over the decision that saw his rival crowned
Carnivalesque
Take the case of Christophe Corthals, known as Cali, who entered the competition to be named this year’s Prins Carnaval – the master of ceremonies for the gigantic celebration Aalst puts on. Cali took the contest so seriously he gave up his job as a bricklayer to devote himself full time, and by his own estimation spent €20,000 on lost income and expenses.
It came right down to the wire, like in a movie, but he was pipped at the post and lost to the favourite, Dennis De Wolf, by only four points. It was the smallest winning margin in the contest’s history.
But Cali was so unwilling to admit defeat that he applied to consult the written test paper which had been his downfall. Accompanied by a bailiff, he discovered one question had been marked as wrong, when in fact, he says, his answer was correct.
What is a new carnival event referred to? “Eerste Nacht van de Toezichters” (First Night of the Supervisors) or simply “Nacht van de Toezichters”. Cali wrote the former. The jury said the latter.
Cali says that he deserves the five points the question was worth, which would put him one point ahead of Dennis. He is currently seeking legal advice and then will decide whether to file an official complaint.
Photo: Cali (left) and the ultimate winner, Dennis De Wolf
