This Monday morning, Martin Buxant received Valérie De Bue, as a guest on LN24. The opportunity to come back with the Walloon Minister on several hot topics of the news.
Among these: the dismissal of Jean-Marc Galand, the minister’s chief of staff. The end of the collaboration between the different parties was announced to the members of the cabinet last week. As La Libre had explained, a complaint had been filed against the Liégeois. It concerns alleged acts of harassment. Jean-Marc Galand has not yet been heard for this complaint, which could then be referred and processed by the Namur labor auditor. Still according to La Libre, a second complaint would exist for acts of unfair dismissal. “I actually ended the collaboration for breach of trust with my chief of staff”, confirmed Valérie De Bue, on LN24.
Big tension in the MR about the alleged harassment in the De Bue cabinet: “The minister must take responsibility”
“Through the press, I learned of a complaint for harassment against him. I have never heard of any harassment in my office. I was not aware of a complaint being filed. Justice will have to do its job. I remember all the same that there is the presumption of innocence. Since the beginning of my political commitment, I have always been for the rights of women in politics. In the event of harassment, the victims must never hesitate to speak up without fear and without taboo.”
Asked about the harassment complaint filed against her chief of staff, Ms. De Bue said: “These facts were reported in the context of a dismissal”assures Valérie De Bue this Monday morning. “There were indeed exchanges of SMS. But, at this stage, it was not acts of harassment (…) I was never informed of any acts of harassment within my cabinet.” A former assistant to Ms. De Bue, however, assured La Libre that she had opened up to her minister about other actions by Jean-Marc Galand “Many times” under the previous legislature. De Bue’s entourage had denied it.
Valérie De Bue’s ex-driver filed a complaint against her chief of staff: “SMS from men, you have to deal with it… But that was my boss”
This complaint in any case sows discord within the MR. Diana Nikolic, MR MP, notably urged the minister to take responsibility. Christine Mauel, also an MR deputy, declared that“The minister must explain herself and take her responsibilities.” “The responsibilities have been taken”assures Ms. De Bue. “I questioned my collaborators and no one ever reported harassment to me. I could not make decisions on the basis of rumors that were not substantiated. I totally deplore the political recovery of these two deputies who are , moreover, quite close to my former political cabinet.It is not tolerable for me and my collaborators who want to move forward.” For her, now, “the incident is closed” oh be you MR.
30 breathalyzer terminals in festive places for the end of the year
The Minister also announced that thirty interactive breathalyzer terminals will be made available to local authorities this year. “When you blow through a straw, you are told your blood alcohol level, the time you need to rest before getting back behind the wheel, the amount of the fine to which you are exposed, as well as alternatives for getting back safely.”
Objective: to encourage drivers not to take the wheel in case of drunkenness. For six months, a pilot experiment was conducted between the AWSR (Walloon Agency for Road Safety) and a Walloon start-up in the provinces of Wallonia. Terminals had been installed in bars, nightclubs and during festive activities. The result is conclusive, according to the Minister, since “seven out of ten drivers have changed their behavior”, by stopping or curbing their alcohol consumption, by postponing their departure or by changing their mode of return. The assessment by tenants is also positive, according to the minister, who has therefore decided to make these terminals permanent. The budget is still under review.
For her, it is obvious that we still drink too much while driving in Belgium. “Drunk driving is responsible for one in four fatal accidents in Wallonia. It causes about seventy deaths and some 2,000 injuries per year”according to Minister De Bue.