Belgium’s Parti Socialiste is calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the financial oversight sector amid allegations of money laundering against former European Commissioner Didier Reynders (Mouvement Réformateur).
The call is also linked to the potential introduction of a new round of fiscal regularisation by the incoming government.
According to Le Soir daily, the National Bank of Belgium has launched an investigation into ING Belgium’s management of the current account of the former European Commissioner.
The bank has allegedly been aware since 2018 of substantial cash deposits made regularly by Reynders, who is suspected of money laundering.
The French-speaking socialists are now demanding a hearing with the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit, National Bank Governor Pierre Wunsch, Financial Services and Marketing Authority (FSMA) Director Jean-Paul Servais, Febelfin Director Karel Baert and ING’s management.
“In light of the government negotiations, which hint at a new fiscal regularisation, seemingly stalled over taxing the wealthiest, and measures that affect the middle class, we cannot allow the existing rules on financial crime to be improperly enforced,” PS parliamentarian Hugues Bayet said.
“Questionable transactions linked to money laundering account for billions of euros annually in Belgium,” he added.
