Striking images from the Flemish Parliament showing how Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits (CD&V) had tears in her eyes after harsh criticism. During a debate about childcare, one of her employees received a sneer from Flemish Member of Parliament Ilse Malffroot (Vlaams Belang) and that struck an emotional chord with the minister.
Igor Bulkke
During last Tuesday’s Welfare committee, the members discussed a progress report on the research committee in childcare. Flemish Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits (CD&V) had to swallow harsh criticism from the opposition, but one of her employees – who was the director of Felies in the past, a large non-profit organization that organizes childcare – also received a comment.
Flemish Member of Parliament Ilse Malfroot (Vlaams Blang) denounced that large groups such as Felies receive money and support, but that the small self-employed are left out in the cold. “The sector and the parents are tired of the witch hunt that is happening,” it said. According to the opposition party a “legitimate remark”, from CD&V it sounds that the employee was “targeted”. In any case, she left the room because she was having too much trouble emotionally.
The most important thing for me is that people can work professionally. I can guarantee that cabinets are worked very hard
In response to Malfroot’s criticism of her cabinet and her services, Minister Hilde Crevits – after seven hours of debate – also had a visibly difficult emotional time. “I would like to say that everyone in the cabinet has a professional past. Nobody comes out of a box. The most important thing for me is that people can work professionally. I can guarantee that cabinets are worked very hard. I am extremely grateful that a number of people are willing to make the switch. And I also want to say that the allegations,” Crevits replied, but then tears came to the minister.
“Keep going”
Eventually, committee chairman Stefaan Sintobin – and fellow party member of Malfroot – also intervened. He offered Crevits a handkerchief, “which is nothing more than human,” the party’s spokesperson responds to our editors. Sintobin also tried to end the session afterwards – which had been going on for almost seven hours. “Keep going”, Crevits responded quickly, but “you can see where this all leads”, concluded the chairman.
“The sector has also shed many tears and they will continue to flow,” Malfroot responded after the minister’s emotional intervention. She kept insisting that the minister and her cabinet “just have to show that she did not tell the truth” and that she said she had not received any answers to her questions.
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