Federal government formateurs focus on security

Government formation negotiators Kris Peeters (CD&V) and Charles Michel (MR) continued discussions yesterday aimed at forming a coalition government. While they had been expected to discuss proposed tax cuts, the formateurs surprised observers by turning their attention to justice and security. 

The agenda change was prompted by the beheading of the American journalist James Foley by the Islamic State (IS) organisation. “We were all deeply shocked by the Islamic State images,” said outgoing federal foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders (pictured).

The next Belgian government, said Reynders, has to do more to confront the problem of radicalisation, which is a danger not only to the people of Iraq and Syria but also threatens Europe. The negotiators also raised the prospect of amending the law to allow accused people to plead guilty, which would help to speed up the judicial process.