2023-10-23 07:57:14
MP Patrick Dewael (Open VLD) plans to sit as an independent in the House, he confirmed on Monday. He says he is unhappy with the way his party handled the resignation of Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne.
“I plan to sit as an independent liberal during the last months of my mandate,” the former Minister of the Interior and Speaker of the House told the members of his group in the federal parliament.
The replacement of Mr. Van Quickenborne by his deputy chief of staff, magistrate Paul Van Tigchelt, caused turmoil among the Flemish liberals. The Flemish MP and former president, Gwendolyn Rutten, cited among the favorites, announced that she was leaving national politics, regretting a lack of respect from her party. The mayor of Ostend and former regional minister, Bart Tommelein, has announced that he will no longer sit on the party bureau. Flemish MP Mercedes Van Volcem called on her party leaders to respect their representatives and said she wanted to convince Ms Rutten to reverse her decision.
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