Obstruction of justice, use of private detectives to spy on competitors of Taxis Verts and Taxis Bleus, media coverage of episodes of violence, retribution for demonstrations, spies within the administration… A journalistic investigation by the ICIJ investigation consortium and du Soir has brought to light, thanks to internal documents dating from the period between 2013 and 2017, practices “questionable” of the company Uber when he arrived in Brussels.
Enough to add fuel to the fire of an already explosive situation in the capital. As of Monday morning, the Socialist Party called for a commission of inquiry in the Brussels Parliament. The group leader, Ridouane Chahid (PS), evokes “attacks against our rule of law and our democracy”: “faced with such violent behavior, impunity is not an option for the PS”.
A request supported within the majority by Écolo. “The leaders of Uber joke among themselves with the slogan of Chicago boy: “it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission”. As far as we are concerned, we would first like a frank explanation“said group leader John Pitseys.
The MR wants a commission… on taxis
In the regional opposition, the MR opposes this request from the two largest parties of the Brussels majority. “It is above all high time to ask for a commission of inquiry into the operation of taxis in Brussels and relations with certain politicians. It would be more useful than to be lathered with information already known and dating from 2017”, strikes the party president, Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR) on Twitter.
A defender of the liberalization of the remunerated passenger transport market, the MR has long supported the arrival of platforms in the capital, and has in recent months defended a “pro-LVC” position, unlike the PS, which is historically cautious about new applications. transport. “Our goal has never been to defend any particular company, but the LVC industry and its drivers”, defends MP David Weytsman (MR). “Instead of demanding a commission of inquiry into Uber, the PS could explain why the problem of taxis depends on the Minister-President PS while Mobility is in charge of Elke Van den Brandt (Groen).
A member of the majority, Défi does not say that it is opposed to the principle of a commission, but calls for justice to be allowed to do its job. At Les Engagés, same story. For the PTB, a commission is not enough: “We must act now to end Uber“, denounces the group leader Françoise De Smedt.
In response to Le Soir, Uber recognizes “errors“and ensures that”Uber is a different company today.”
Remember that after eight years of controversy, the Brussels Region has finally adopted a “taxi plan”, making the existence of Uber and other applications (Bolt, Heetch) legal under certain conditions. The sensitive issues of the number of licenses and prices are currently the subject of consultation. Rudi Vervoort’s draft decree provides for a numerus clausus of 1425 taxis, and 1825 enforcement drivers (“street taxis”, former “LVC”).