The Senate's Committee on Institutional Affairs had already approved the inclusion of animal welfare in the Constitution at the end of 2023. Today it was the Chamber's turn to vote on the revision of Article 7bis, which recognises animals as “sentient beings”. For the MR, animal welfare is a fundamental issue and one of our fellow citizens' key concerns. It was time for it to be enshrined in the Constitution.
For the MR group in the Chamber, this is “an issue that, in our view, should not be subject to political games a few months before the elections. While in another Parliament some parties decided, for lack of sufficient courage, to postpone the issue of animal welfare to the next legislature, the federal Parliament has taken its responsibilities.”
“The preparatory work carried out by our senators has established a solid framework for this reform, proving our unwavering commitment to animal welfare,” says Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven. Georges-Louis Bouchez adds: “We have worked diligently to ensure that this text reflects the values of our society, while respecting the specific needs of each species.” Philippe Dodrimont concludes: “This initiative represents a crucial step for our legislation, strengthening the protection of animals at constitutional level.”
In this election period, it is essential to highlight the inconsistency of certain political groups, such as Ecolo. Their shifting stance on crucial issues such as ritual slaughter without stunning in Brussels, in contrast to their actions in the federal and Walloon Parliaments, points to a glaring lack of consistency and clear electioneering: “While we at the MR were pioneers with the Walloon Animal Welfare Code, it is clear that others are unfortunately playing a game of appearances,” notes Georges-Louis Bouchez.
Finally, the MR points out that the parliamentary work has shown that the revision of Article 7bis will not make life more complicated for professionals in the agricultural sector.
As he already did during last week's debate, Mathieu Bihet clarifies that this amendment to Article 7bis will have no impact on hunting, farming, cultivation and other such activities.
Specifically, the text adds the following words to Article 7bis of the Constitution: “In exercising their respective powers, the Federal State, the Communities and the Regions shall ensure the protection and welfare of animals as sentient beings.”