The government’s I Committee, which monitors the activities of the two national intelligence agencies – civilian and military – has called for stronger vigilance on the question of election interference, given the calendar of regional, federal and European elections in May this year. The call comes as evidence increases of Russian interference in US Senate, House and Presidential elections in 2016.
Elections in Belgium, assuming the government remains in power until May, are due to take place in May, to elect regional and federal governments, as well as the European Parliament.
However the I Committee has warned that there is a danger the elections could be manipulated by foreign powers.
According to Serge Lypszyc, chair of the committee, there is no clear evidence Russians or anyone else would be involved in interfering in Belgian elections. However, he warned, “We would not wish to be confronted with circumstances such as those experienced in the US”.
Despite strong suspicions regarding Russian interference in the US elections, nothing has yet been proven. Nor is there any proof that anyone might attempt to interfere in Belgium’s election process.
Nevertheless Lypszyc has called on Belgium’s intelligence services to be vigilant in preventing any interference. “We will be looking into how the laws in this regard can be adapted,” he said.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
