2023-06-29 17:45:00
To mark the lack of support for the minister, one member of each group abstained: Malik Ben Achour for the PS and Samuel Cogolati for Ecolo-Groen.
Hadja Lahbib has been in turmoil since the granting of visas to members of an Iranian delegation who came to take part in the Brussels Urban Summit in the capital in mid-June. The MR does not intend to let go of his minister despite his explanations before parliament deemed unconvincing and changing. A vote of no confidence would have jeopardized the Vivaldi majority.
The PS and environmentalists, however, continue to demand the resignation of Hadja Lahbib.
“The challenges of the moment, whether social or environmental, demand responsibilities that are up to these challenges”, justified the leader of the PS group Ahmed Laaouej, deploring however “the irresponsibility of a minister in particular ” .
“We are voting in favor of the motion because environmentalists are committed to the government continuing to work for the citizens of this country,” said Samuel Cogolati. “My vote will be different and my colleges support this signal. It is up to the minister and her alone to restore confidence,” he said.
These arguments did not convince the opposition. Raoul Hedebouw (PTB) suggested to the Socialists and Ecologists to extend their abstention to their entire group, recalling that the motion of no confidence only concerned the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Four parties of the majority have made heavy accusations. Was all this just show?” Asked Georges Dallemand (Les Engagés). “Tonight there is a serious loss of confidence in politicians.”
“You cannot blame the minister’s inconsistency by being incoherent yourselves,” added Sophie Rohonyi (DéFI).
For his part, Peter De Roover (N-VA) denounced “a very weak attitude of the PS and Ecolo-Groen.” “I would like to congratulate Mr. Bouchez (president of the MR, editor’s note), it had to be done,” he quipped.
The only deputy to defend Hadja Lahbib, Tim Vandenput (Open Vld) indicated that one of the Iranians spotted by the Security during an Iranian opposition demonstration on June 12 was illegally residing. According to a note from State Security that Belga was able to consult, this man is an asylum seeker. A second application for international protection was submitted on Wednesday.
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