The President of the New Flemish Aliiance, Bart De Wever, on Sunday issued a warning to his federal government coalition partners. He said if the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken, has to resign, the New Flemish Alliance will also leave the government.
De Wever stated to VTM, “If Theo Francken is asked to stand down, then the New Flemish Alliance will do likewise. I am clear on this subject. I wholeheartedly support Theo Francken, and I will not let him be brought down by this.”
The government has asked the General Commission for Refugees and Stateless Persons (known as the “CGRA”) to conduct an investigation with the United Nations and the European Commission. This is around evidence of abuses suffered by the Sudanese after repatriation to their home country. In the view of the President of the Flemish nationalists, even if these accounts are confirmed, there is no question of Mr Francken resigning.
He added, “As far as I am concerned, Theo Francken’s position is not up for discussion - not today, not tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow. He applied the law. This is not an easy skill, including taking account of human issues. I am well aware of this, but someone must both do it and dare to do it.”
The Brussels Times
