The resignation of the Secretary of State for Asylum, Theo Francken, is not on the cards, the chairman of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party, CD&V, Wouter Beke, said on Monday after a meeting of the party’s executive. “The CD&V made a commitment for five full years in 2014 and we are sticking by it,” Beke said.
The leader of the Christian Democrats further explained his position on the issue, which he had already laid out during the end-of-year break. “It’s a matter of personal ethics,” he said. “If the Secretary of State feels that he can still perform his duties, it’s a matter for him. One person’s ethics are clearly different from another’s, but that’s how it is. For us, there is nothing more on the agenda.”
The chairman of the New Flemish Alliance, N-VA, Bart De Wever, warned his partners in the ruling coalition on Sunday evening of the consequences that would were Francken to resign: it would mean the N-VA leaving the majority, which would in turn bring down the federal government.
Early elections are “absolutely not on the agenda”, Beke said. “That would be playing with fire. People expect us to continue taking decisions in 2018, not to engage in petty political games,” he added. “There is enough trust to implement the governmental agreement.”
The Brussels Times
