Walloon parliament’s Bureau and its President Jean-Claude Marcourt resigned on Tuesday following a series of scandals involving a trip to Dubai, with Marcourt announcing that the resignation will be effective once a new Bureau is appointed.
On 9 December, Belgian Socialist Party (PS) President Paul Magnette called for the resignation of the entire Bureau of the Walloon parliament after Le Soir reported on the body’s massive expenses and a costly Dubai trip Marcourt and the Bureau’s Frédéric Janssens embarked on last year, RTBF and Le Soir reported.
The Walloon parliament was also linked to harassment and bullying allegations involving Janssens.
Sophie Pécriaux (PS) was the first member of the Bureau – composed of five people – to announce her resignation on Friday.
Under heavy political and media pressure since last week, Marcourt finally resigned on Tuesday, along with the whole Bureau.
On Tuesday morning, he told Belgian news media RTL in an interview that the responsibility was not entirely his since his predecessors and the previous Bureau are also to blame.
He explained that his resignation will be effective once the transition, which is necessary in order not to block parliamentary activities ahead of the vote on the 2023 Walloon budget, is completed.
Marcourt will still be part of the institution, but only as a member of the parliament.
Meanwhile, the Walloon Parliament will elect a new Bureau and, therefore, a new president on 21 December. It is up to Magnette to find a successor.
(Anne-Sophie Gayet | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
