UpdateN-VA and Vlaams Belang also want Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) to step aside after the controversial visit of the Iranian delegation. The parliament will put her on an extra committee, but that will not lead to her dismissal. That says VTM NEWS journalist Karel Lattrez at HLN LIVE. “She maintains that she has not made a political mistake.” In any case, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) puts the blame entirely on Brussels. “Despite the negative, Pascal Smet sent the invitation and even paid for their hotel.”
Igor Bulkke
Latest update:
12:12
After the resignation of Brussels State Secretary Pascal Smet (Vooruit), the question arises whether Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) – who was responsible for issuing the visas of the Iranian delegation – should also step aside. N-VA and Vlaams Belang are already targeting her, but Smet also believes that “everyone involved in this file should ask themselves to assume their responsibility”.
“He implicitly said that Lahbib should also think about whether she can live with this politically,” translates VTM News journalist Karel Lattrez at HLN LIVE. “He took part of the blame yesterday, but immediately said that everyone must take their responsibility.”
According to Pascal Smet, Lahbib should also think about whether she can live with this politically
Opposition parties N-VA and Vlaams Belang accuse Lahbib of having made a “serious political mistake”, but they think differently at the cabinet of the foreign minister. According to Lattrez, according to them, nothing has changed due to Smet’s dismissal. “Lahbib maintains that she has not made a political mistake,” said our political journalist, who hears that her party and the government support her 100 percent.
Lahbib’s position could only begin to waver if “new elements emerge that prove she pulled the file to get the visit in order.” In addition, the question remains why she – as a federal minister – immediately answered positively to the question from “a Brussels secretary of state”. “She can resign if she feels she made mistakes, but she won’t,” Lattrez concluded.
Lahbib does not want to respond for the time being, but will have to defend himself on Wednesday in an extra committee on Foreign Affairs.
LOOK. Prime Minister De Croo fully supports his foreign minister Hadja Lahbib (MR), but is keen for Brussels and former State Secretary Pascal Smet (Vooruit)
N-VA and Vlaams Belang continue to request resignation
Opposition parties N-VA and Vlaams Belang think it is “correct” that Pascal Smet has stepped aside, but now also want Lahbib to keep the honor to himself. That said N-VA parliamentary group leader Peter De Roover on Monday morning on the VRT radio program ‘De Ochtend’. “Lahbib is not a strong minister”: De Roover did not spare his criticism for a minister – who in his eyes – “gave way too easily to Iran”. According to him, Lahbib has sent a “very bad signal to the world.”
“What weakness do you show towards a regime that has humiliated us by holding our compatriot Olivier Vandecasteele hostage for 455 days?” said De Roover. “What is Lahbib actually doing there?” the N-VA members went on strongly. “Does she have the strength to exercise the position of foreign minister?
According to De Roover, Lahbib must resign for “a serious political error and suffer the same consequences as Smet”. If she stays put, it will be clear to De Roover that “the De Croo government is rolling out the red carpet for regimes such as Iran that are blackmailing our country”.
LOOK. Is Pascal Smet (Vooruit) dragging Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib (MR) into his downfall? Our political journalist analyzes
LOOK. “I have not made a mistake, but I am politically responsible,” said State Secretary Pascal Smet (Vooruit) about his resignation
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