The Prime Minister, Charles Michel, "called [Prince Laurent] to order" on Thursday in the Lower Chamber, declaring him guilty of an “error”. The Prince had undertaken political contacts with Sri Lanka without having requested the authorisation of the Foreign Minister. A law made in 2013 requires this.
If such a situation “were to occur in the future, the government could ensure that there would be consequences,” Mr Michel stated. He was being questioned by the deputy, Veerle Wouters (formerly of the New Flemish Alliance). She was wanting to know the potential penalties available to the government against the Prince.
The Prime Minister added that if Prince Laurent had requested authorisation to embark upon making contacts in Sri Lanka, he would have got this.
Veerle Wouters indicated her disappointment with such a response, asking if the Prime Minister's apparent inclination in favour of the monarchy was him acting with a will to court “royal favours.”
The Brussels Times
