Flemish aldermen demand a say in federal politics

Flemish aldermen demand a say in federal politics

The aldermen of Flemish cities and municipalities which are directly involved in the issue of Belgian fighters traveling to and from Syria, got together in Mechelen on Monday to discuss the current threat and share information. They will also soon meet with Home Secretary Jan Jambon to discuss how to implement the measures contained in the coalition agreement. According to the latest figures available, 313 Belgians have already gone to fight in Syria. Some 87 of them have since returned to Belgium. To prevent departures and effectively monitor returns, the aldermen of Antwerp, Mechelen, Kortrijk, Vilvoorde and Maaseik are calling for better communication and greater transparency from Flemish and federal authorities. Mechelen alderman Bart Somers demands that the local authorities and the police play a more important role in this issue. "But they obviously need a legal framework in which to do so – by confiscating the identity papers of minors who would wish to leave the country, for instance," he says. "It’s a prickly situation."      

(Source: Belga)


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