Direct to the Chamber: new distribution of powers in the government, Sophie Wilmès going on leave for family reasons

The Prime Minister had to inform the Chamber of the leave of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and of the new distribution of powers which concerns some of the government ministers. Officially, the redistribution of powers of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions between Alexander De Croo, David Clarinval and Mathieu Michel will be officially notified by Royal Decree.

In front of the deputies, Alexander De Croo spoke of the ordeal that the family of Sophie Wilmès went through. It is “very painful news for our colleague, Sophie Wilmès, her husband Christopher and their children”said the Prime Minister, wishing the Minister and her family “a lot of courage in a very painful period”.

Alexander De Croo confirmed that Sophie Wilmès heard “fighting this fight once morest cancer together, as a family”. “It is a choice that I hope this assembly unanimously respects”, wished Alexander De Croo.

The Prime Minister specified that Sophie Wilmès formally remained a member of the federal government and that she had “also explicitly stated that during this period she does not wish to receive compensation”.

The President of the Chamber, Eliane Tillieux (PS) also wished the Deputy Prime Minister, her husband and her children to have “the strength and the courage to go through this ordeal with determination, with a lot of love and above all with confidence”.