“Clearly, we should not expect too much from the federal government’s preparations for institutional reforms, as their chief executive and constitution specialist has left due to French-speaking blockades,” Demir said. “I had expected this and have therefore taken my precautions with regard to justice. That is why I asked that other constitutional specialist, Stefan Sottiaux, to set up a comparative law study on the possible defederalization of justice.”
The study includes an analysis of the current division of competences in Belgium, but also of the division of competences in other federal states, the minister said. “Both with regard to the design and organization of the courts and tribunals and substantive law as well as the police and enforcement. Based on the study, a number of possible scenarios will be presented for a new division of competences. I expect the results of this early next year.”