The communal council of the City of Brussels adopted Monday by a very large majority a motion asking the federal parliament to reject the draft law on home visits to arrest people staying illegally. The motion also calls on the federal government to reconsider its position with regard to the various opinions issued so far by the Council of State, the Bar Association, the association of the judiciary, the various citizen associations, the academic world and communal councils.
Only Johan Van den Driessche (N-VA) voted against the motion. All elected liberals (MR and Open Vld) abstained, as did Bianca Debaets (CD & V).
The MR party (Mouvement réformateur) tabled a motion that further clarifies the position of the federal government. This text was rejected by all the other groups, except the N-VA and MR, who voted in favor.
The Liberals' proposal was intended to reiterate that Belgium "is and remains a land of asylum" and to encourage people in need of protection to apply for asylum in order to be hosted by Fedasil, the federal agency for the reception of asylum seekers.
It also aimed to express support "for the policy that aims to make Belgium a host country in matters of asylum but also a rule of law country".
The Brussels Times
