Good afternoon.
As those of you who read The Brussels Times regularly will know, we report on the drug crime and gang warfare that is increasingly plaguing Brussels and Belgium. Many politicians seem either at a loss as to how to deal with this, or are crippled by the dysfunctional systems at their disposal – not least of which is the continued absence of a Brussels Government.
One person who is being very vocal about trying to change this is the Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil – maybe too vocal for some. It was with interest that we learned of reports that he is now under police protection following credible threats to his life from drug criminals – reports which we here at The Brussels Times were able to independently verify.
This prompted us to ask; how many public figures and their families are currently under police protection of one form or another due to threats to their lives? The figure, it turns out, is 101.
Just to be clear, many of these are not measures taken because of usual risks that senior politicians may encounter as part of their office, some are extraordinary actions because criminal drug gangs in Belgium seem to be able to extend their tentacles into every corner of life in the country, to the point where they are so brazen and without fear, that they can directly threaten the lives of officials, including police officers, prosecutors and judges – and the authorities seem powerless to stop them, so can only resort to defensive tactics.
Why does this matter? Well, for a start, valuable resources are being diverted from crime prevention to other areas as a result. But more importantly, this is a slippery slope. If people who might otherwise be attracted to a life of public service fear for their safety, then we may be losing the very individuals who can ultimately solve this growing problem. If the criminals believe that threats can deter people or authorities from taking necessary action, then we enter a vicious circle of influence and potential corruption as well, which can lead to a lack of trust in the whole criminal justice and law enforcement system.
Let's be clear, I'm not saying we are there yet – this is not comparable to Mexico by any means – but the level of threat that criminal gangs hold over officials and public figures in Belgium is shocking and worrying, and there is no democracy where this should be allowed to pass as "normal."
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1. 101 people under police protection in Belgium
Magistrates, ministers and police officers are most often targeted, and therefore most often protected. Read more.
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3. Lime scooters can stay in Brussels – for now at least
A mystery firm has stepped in to help the US-based company. Read more.
4. Belgium’s national stadium is not fit for purpose, says football association
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5. NGO has links to Muslim Brotherhood, says Belgian intelligence report
La Dernière Heure gained access to the confidential document. Read more.
6. Poorer people unfairly impacted by Low-Emission Zone, says Brussels ombudsman
The ombudsman started an investigation after receiving hundreds of complaints from citizens contesting LEZ-related fines. Read more.
7. EU launches investigation into far-right EP group
Vlaams Belang and the French National Rally belonged to the former European Parliament group. Read more.
