Georges-Louis Bouchez was a guest on La Première this Tuesday morning. At the heart of his remarks was the growing insecurity in Brussels. According to him, the regional authorities' response falls far short of the challenges posed by this worrying reality. During the interview, the MR President sharply criticised the Brussels government and its Minister-President for, in his view, denying the seriousness of the situation.
The deterioration of the security situation in Brussels is not a recent phenomenon but a trend that has persisted for years. Despite repeated calls for action, he believes the measures taken so far are insufficient, leaving certain areas in a state he describes as “lawless zones”. Georges-Louis wants immediate answers, stressing that the current laxity in Brussels is intolerable and is solely due to the left-wing policies that have plagued the capital for far too many years.
One of the key proposals put forward this morning is the return of the army to the streets, a measure which, according to the MR President, has already proven effective in the fight against crime in the past. He recalls that when this measure was implemented, the crime rate fell significantly.
Another point raised by Georges-Louis Bouchez concerns the composition of the prison population. 43% of offenders are not Belgian nationals, and 3,100 of them are in the country illegally. This represents a considerable financial burden for Belgian citizens, at an estimated cost of 260 million euros per year. These people must be sent back to their home countries.
Finally, the discussion turned to Belgium's energy future. GLB recalled the MR's role in averting an energy catastrophe and argued in favour of extending the active nuclear reactors as well as building new units. For him, any discussion on forming a new government must necessarily include the issue of nuclear power.