2023-06-16 15:33:00
”I accept the invitation of the mayor of Tehran”launched the Brussels State Secretary for European and International Relations, who “formally denies the idea that he would have rolled out the red carpet”.
Les Engagés demand the resignation of Pascal Smet
“It is a serious political fault. The credibility and honor of the Region are damaged”, asserted Céline Fremault, group leader Les Engagés who believes that “this cannot remain without follow-up”. Les Engagés demand the resignation of Pascal Smet.
Within the majority, the tone was hardly more conciliatory.
Marie Lecoq (Ecolo) described Pascal Smet’s action as “major political fault” et regretted that the socialist’s explanations did not include “not the shadow of an excuse”.
An extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs Committee was called for Wednesday at 1 p.m. to analyze the documents provided by the Brussels Secretary of State. The Commission will examine the documents submitted to the session by Pascal Smet and will discuss them in the light of the elements which will have been brought to the Chamber on Tuesday by the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib (MR).
Smet plays with transparency
Because the socialist, to whom all the parties demanded accounts this Friday in plenary session, immediately played cards on the table. He handed over to Parliament all the documents relating to the exchanges he has on these invitations and the issuance of visas to Iranian representatives.
He then detailed at length the exchanges he had with Foreign Affairs.
Pascal Smet says he consulted them initially in order to relay the request for an invitation sent to the mayor of Tehran. A negative opinion reached him on March 20. The SPF informed him that inviting these Iranian nationals is not appropriate.
Pascal Smet forwarded this notice to Metropolis. Quickly, the NGO which organizes one of the conferences of the Brussels summit expressed its dissatisfaction. Tehran occupies the vice-presidency of Metropolis and the presence of these representatives is considered important.
Under pressure, Pascal Smet returned to the charge with Hadja Lahbib on May 10. The cabinet of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs would then have agreed not to block the granting of visas, assured the Secretary of State before the Brussels Parliament. Pascal Smet ensures “that no pressure was exerted on foreign affairs”.
Several exchanges will still have taken place between the two ministries. On May 16, the Smet cabinet sent a “standardized letter” to all embassies, including that of Tehran.
Pascal Smet’s explanations did not have the effect of appeasing the Brussels parliamentarians. None supported the Dutch-speaking socialist from Brussels, who faced joint fire from both the majority and the opposition.
”A major political mistake by Smet… and Lahbib”
Challenge and the PS, however, recall that the responsibility, in this affair, is shared by Hadja Lahbib, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs. The opposition between the MR and the PS constitutes one of the central aspects of the dossier which takes on a more political turn.
”The image of Brussels has been tarnished by this saga which we could have done withoutlamented Ridouane Chahid, PS group leader in the Brussels Parliament. For us, the real question to which we still have no answer is how the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Migration Nicole de Moor were able to issue these visas. Insofar as the final decision rests with them.”
David Leisterh, MR group leader, reverses the perspective by insisting that Pascal Smet “insisted against the advice of Foreign Affairs”.
Is the resignation of Pascal Smet really on the table? The Socialists do not envisage it for the moment. No more than Challenge. Écolo, on the other hand, does not accept the behavior of Pascal Smet in this file.
Ecolo’s anger
The Greens, in particular, do not admit to being left out and not being informed of the list of participants at the summit.
”The Brussels Government never asked for it, nor any member of it”assures us the spokesperson for Pascal Smet.
This is not correct according to Écolo who assures “having requested the said list several times”. An email, dated June 6 and sent by the office of Secretary of State Barbara Trachte to the Smet office, attests to this.
Wednesday will be decisive.
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