This morning, Martin Buxant received Ahmed Laaouej, federal deputy and leader of the PS group in the Chamber, on LN24. On this match day, as Belgium face Croatia this Thursday at 4 p.m., the MP returned to the recent incidents that followed in the center of Brussels after Morocco’s victory last Sunday. “These thugs are not supporters. When we support a team we don’t break, we don’t degrade. What happened is unacceptable”, he begins. “There were breakages but that doesn’t mean the police didn’t do their job. She had set up a device and had started to act before the end of the match. And I expect her to be just as vigilant today. I expect the police to do everything possible to prevent and react with firmness, as they have done. Now, these thugs must answer for their actions in court. The tolerance must be zero”insists Ahmed Laaouej firmly.
Nevertheless, the group leader wants us to avoid amalgams. “I saw Moroccan families in tears because they felt dirty by what happened. Most Moroccan supporters celebrate the sport and have nothing to do with these thugs. These people degrade the image of the biggest name”he laments.
In the rest of this interview, Ahmed Laaouej then returned to the kilometric tax project, affirming that the PS in Brussels will never vote for this project. “Today cars bring in 20 billion euros in various taxes to the State, so if the tax could have any influence on motorists it would be known. In addition, there is already a kilometer tax, it’s called excise. The more fuel you put in, the more taxes you pay. And today it’s irresponsible to come up with additional taxes, people can’t get by. We want to improve access to public transport, for example to make STIB free. This is what will push people to stop using the car”he says.
Martin Buxant then questioned Ahmed Laaouej on the structural reforms that Europe wants to impose in this context of economic austerity. “Public spending is investment and Europe doesn’t want to understand that. Besides, where are its structural reforms? It is for this reason that the deputy wishes to refuse Europe’s request, at the risk of being sanctioned. “If we use the income from speculation, if we fight tax evasion more effectively, we will find ways to reduce deficits. We can then offer Europe a bulletin of budget deficits, but it will be a big fight”he admits.
Read also> Romelu Lukaku, the man who can still save the Red Devils tournament
Finally, Ahmed Laaouej returned to the energy crisis which is still raging and to the new recent increase in gas prices. “Fussing from the outside is useless, we need serenity. We are asking the Prime Minister and the Minister for Energy to move forward with the negotiations, and if that does not work out, we will have to observe all the legal provisions that are at our disposal in order to be able to react by protecting the security of supply and the household bill. The PS is open to all solutions that will allow us to move in this direction”he concludes.