2023-10-28 05:02:00
I think that a few months before the elections, it is heresy to want to set up a parliamentary commission of inquiry which lasts 12 to 18 months, or even two years. There is no interest in this issue where the dysfunctions are mainly linked to structural problems, contrary to what some would have us think. I therefore think that at the start of a new legislature, it will be rather useful to set up a special commission to see what reforms are necessary for both the justice system and the police. Justice is the poor relation of politics, and the police have been underinvested in for several years. Furthermore, we must not forget that the establishment of a commission of inquiry implies that parliamentarians interfere in the functioning of justice, which is contrary to the separation of powers. I am surprised that Mr Uyttendaele did not think of it.
“One can imagine that Van Quickenborne resigned in advance, knowing that other hiccups could be revealed”
What do you recommend, then?
In the immediate future, it is more interesting to think about a commission to follow up on the recommendations of the commission of the March 2016 attacks. Within my group, we have been asking for this for two years, but we were refused. Today, the request seems to be more audible to all MPs. We didn’t want to make a show by demanding such a thing, but so be it.
Do you think that some of the recommendations of the attacks commission have remained in the closet?
Some said that everything is implemented, others – notably the majority – say that 30% of the recommendations have been forgotten. In any case, what I consider fundamental – and this was again seen in the Lassoued file which concerns us today – is the question of the exchange of information between the security services. Between those who know something but cannot act, and those who say nothing because they think that others cannot intervene, it is a hodgepodge that cannot be repeated again. These stories of poor communication reminded me of the attacks of 2016 and what happened around the death of police officer Thomas Montjoie in Schaerbeek. This especially made me think of the Dutroux affair. Could the optimal exchange of information have avoided all this? No one can say this 100%. But in any case, we would have put more chances on our side to avoid such tragedies.
Do you point to those responsible in the information channel for the management of Abdesalem Lassoued’s case?
We always have the same scenarios: that of a fragmentation of responsibilities. Everyone, and we saw it in these fourteen hours of committees in the House, came to say: ‘This is what happened in my services. There may have been a little thing, an oversight, but that’s all, it’s not a fault. In fact, we see that the entire system is dysfunctional. I am not coming to Parliament to demand the resignation of anyone. I come here to hear the truth. And we have not had all the information that we are entitled to obtain.
In fact, some MPs called for the resignation of the Minister of the Interior because she did not say everything about the content of the Red Notice. We even talk about “lies”. Isn’t this something that should lead to resignation?
It is true that we had the opportunity to see that, contrary to what was put forward by the Minister of the Interior, the Red Notice on the request for extradition of Lassoued did not only contain escape as the only element. . Is this a lie? An understanding of the truth? An untruth? I don’t know. I think it doesn’t make sense not to say everything. I’m not saying that Mrs Verlinden should resign, but no one comes out of it better. The victims deserve better than this. Regarding this extradition request, the most shocking thing was, in my opinion, the new Minister of Justice. I was stunned when he said that the Brussels public prosecutor’s office does not suffer from a lack of resources.
The Minister of the Interior defends the police, justifies her management of the Lassoued file and saves her position
Isn’t the Minister of Justice right to say that the mistake committed by the Brussels public prosecutor’s office is not linked to lack of resources, but to a question of organization?
Certainly, this argument can be heard. But in his statement, the minister says that, overall, the prosecution does not lack resources, and that is inaudible. For the cadre of magistrates to be complete in this prosecution, 119 people are needed. However, there are only 95 people filling it today and, in fact, there are only 82 people. The Minister of Justice himself announced these figures. So 82 people out of 119 is anything but a floor with resources. Today we are announcing the arrival of five additional magistrates, but I asked the question: and that will be five more and that’s it. This figure is ridiculous considering the situation in Brussels.
The rest of our interview with Vanessa Matz: “When I hear the MR say that we need resources for the police and justice, that leaves me perplexed”
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