The parliamentary commission on the colonial past of Belgium ends in failure: “The minds were not ripe”

The chairman of the commission, Wouter De Vriendt (Ecolo-Groen), presented his proposed recommendations on 22 November. The debate has crystallized around one of them: number 69, which concerns an apology from Belgium for its colonial past. On the right, these do not pass. The liberals and the CD&V want to stick to the regrets expressed by the King last June. The PS and the ecologists believe, on the contrary, that apologies are a prerequisite for any work of reconciliation.

“Today, the minds were not ripe. It will be up to others to decide,” noted Mr. De Vriendt.