Eva De Bleeker, Secretary of State for the Budget and Consumer Protection, has tendered her resignation.
She is replaced by Alexia Bertrand (MR), who was sworn in before the King on Friday as Secretary of State for the Budget and Consumer Protection.
A secretary of state under pressure
For several days,ne controversy has formed around the Secretary of State Open Vld. The Flemish liberal has come under heavy criticism in recent days following errors in the budget documents she sent to the House.
Indeed, the figures communicated in October to Europe are not the same as those transmitted to parliamentarians in recent days. We are talking about a difference of more than 1.5 billion €. How to explain this difference in a few weeks?
Yesterday in the House, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo speaks of a clerical error. Obviously, the explanation was not enough.
MR vs Open Vld ?
It remains to be seen how this position devolved to the Open VLD is found allocated to a Brussels deputy MR?
“The last two years, I have taken up the challenge with a lot of passion, every day […] I would have liked to finish the work started, but I must conclude at this moment that it has become impossible for me to continue”briefly indicated the now ex-Secretary of State for the Budget Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld) on Friday afternoon, during a statement to the press at her cabinet. “I have therefore decided to hand in my resignation to my party president”confirms the former Secretary of State.
During a press conference, Alexia Bertrand announced that she was now part of the Open Vld. Its referents will be both the president of the Flemish liberals, Egbert Lachaert, and the Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo. “You can consider me today as a member of the Open Vld. I am part of the big liberal family, my first lines are with the president of this party and with the Prime Minister”explained the one who was still a few hours ago head of the MR group in the Brussels parliament. “I don’t know yet if I will be a member of both MR and OpenVLD. I know it’s possible to do it, but I don’t know yet if I will.” she clarified.
Eva De Bleeker from shadow to light
The Open VLD was looking for a new figure to replace Maggie De Block in Flemish Brabant.
Alderman in Hoeilaart (Flemish Brabant), Eva De Bleeker became, in 2019, first substitute of the Open Vld list in the European elections. Then, in 2020, Secretary of State for the Budget.
President of Women Open Vld, Eva Of Bleacher (48 ans) worked, in parallel of his local mandate, as a civil servant at the European Commission in recent years, specializing in trade and energy.
She studied commerce at the VUB and in Berlin, before obtaining a master’s degree in International Political Economy at the English university of Warwick.
Alexia Bertrand, born in Antwerp, elected French speaker
43 years old, born in Wilrijk, Alexia Bertrand is businessman’s daughter Luc Bertrand group boss Ackermans & Van Haarena group of which she was an administrator and a function that she will leave to enter the government.
She entered politics in 2012 in Wouwé-St-Pierre, during the municipal elections. She is since 2019 Brussels MP and leader of the MR group in the Brussels Parliament. His name had circulated to succeed Sophie Wilmès in government. His party president then preferred Hadja Lahbib. Alexia Bertrand then announced her intention to run for the Brussels Minister-Presidency in 2024. A statement that may have displeased within the MR, it was then indicated.
The arrival of Alexia Bertrand seems to have surprised all the majority partners.