Proposition 55K0592

Logo (Chamber of representatives)

Proposition de loi créant une zone de police de Bruxelles-Capitale.

General information

Authors
VB Ortwin Depoortere, Barbara Pas, Frank Troosters, Tom Van Grieken, Dries Van Langenhove, Hans Verreyt
Submission date
Oct. 14, 2019
Official page
Visit
Status
Rejected
Requirement
Simple
Subjects
Brussels region municipal police police

Voting

Voted to adopt
Groen Ecolo LE PS | SP DéFI Open Vld MR PVDA | PTB
Voted to reject
N-VA LDD VB
Abstained from voting
Vooruit

Party dissidents

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Discussion

July 9, 2020 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source

Barbara Pas VB ⚙

This is not the first legislation proposed in this House for a single police zone in Brussels. This is not the first proposal of the Flemish Interest. We have already tried this in previous legislatures. However, this is not the first proposal from other parties. Almost all Flemish parties have in the past submitted similar proposals, from sp.a to N-VA on CD&V and Open Vld. This is also not surprising. It was an election promise from all of you to finally work on it.

The bill has been treated very well in the committee. Debates began at the end of last year and a large number of hearings were held. These hearings were quite educational, as was the exchange of thoughts we had with the Minister of Internal Affairs. All those parties who say they are inclined to a single police zone, I can report the good news that it is legally perfectly okay to carry out the merger on the basis of a federal, legislative initiative, such as the one that precedes today. This was confirmed by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Unlike the proposals of the other parties submitted in the past, our proposal takes into account the minimum representation of the Flemish in the Brussels police councils of the current six zones, as set out in the fifth state reform. Minister De Crem has not only confirmed that it is legally perfectly okay to regulate this in such a bill, he also stated correctly: "Anyone who has no personal interest in these should support that proposed merger."

Anyone who does not have a self-interest is in favor of a merger. The only ones who oppose a merger and the reason why members vote against the proposal or give as a reason why they vote against is that there is no support from the Brussels mayors. Some Corps Chiefs were also questioned, but during the hearings they made very clear that, regardless of the political choice made, they will loyally perform their assignment.

For those of you who wish to have a greater support among the mayors, I would like to make two comments.

First, do not be hypocritical. There are a lot of policies that there is absolutely no support. The time of speech granted to me under Article 88 is far too short to enumerate all the policy points referred to. However, not to mention the migration policy by name, there are many examples of policy points for which there is absolutely no support. So be consistent.

Secondly, do not be naive. If you really want to wait until the support of the Brussels mayors grows, we will get to a government even faster and even faster to a next government. The Brussels mayors will continue to resist and continue to resist, as they want to continue to defend their baronies.

However, as the hearings also showed, there is a clear desire and willingness for more cooperation. However, concrete results of these intentions remain out. This necessary cooperation does not come spontaneously. Imposing them with a bill, such as the proposal presented today, is the first step.

Fusion is needed. It is necessary, to increase the effectiveness of the Brussels police and to guarantee more security to the citizens.

All Flemish parties in this hemisphere realize that this is necessary. I hear you say it again and again every time there are again riots in Brussels and if there are again incidents of heavy violence against the police. At that time, I hear everyone here again saying that there is an urgent need for a single police zone. and right. They were election promises from you, but if this then goes to the vote, colleagues, then all those Flemish parties that call for it every time vote against, except for the N-VA, which has supported this proposal.

Colleague Lanjri, you were just worried. It was about the cultural sector and the 180-degree curve that the Open Vld took there. You worried if they weren’t the better fools and if you were still a fool. I can tell you that you should not worry. Minister De Crem of CD&V showed himself a great supporter in the exchange of ideas, he stated recently that the unified Brussels police zone is a breakpoint for his party in government negotiations, but nevertheless CD&V votes against this proposal. So don’t worry: when it comes to twisting, when it comes to cheating, you are still spinning the crown.

I hope you look at the content. If the sender does not please you, look at the content. You have another chance, later at the moods, to use your common sense, to let your political courage triumph. This can only be done if you vote against this proposal.