Cabinet of Minister Verlinden was aware of discrimination problems in Aalter: Letter to Mayor De Crem remained (Aalter)
© Belga/Belpress
In February 2024, two months after the first complaint from a citizen about the registration policy in Aalter, the FPS of the Interior, the then Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) informed.
Source: Belga
Today at 8:32 AM
When contacting between the administration and the government, a letter in preparation that asks to apply the legal rules and which according to the FPS must be signed by the minister and must be sent to mayor of Aalter Pieter de Crem (CD&V). But that letter has remained in despite the insistence of the FPS, according to research from The morning and Pano (VRT NWS).
Philippe Moreau, director-general ad interim of the Identity and Civil Affairs Service, had sent an email to the cabinet on 12 February 2024, he himself reports in a written response to The morning and Pano. « I also clearly stated the problem in the e-mail: the systematically not registering of non-Belgians in the city of Aalter and the fact that our management had received a lot of complaints about it, » quotes VRT NWS from MoreAneaeaus reaction. According to VRT NWS, the reason why Verlinden, which was clearly prepared « for signing by the minister », never signed, remains a mystery, despite the « flagrant misunderstanding of the legal powers by the municipality of Aalter ».
Read too. What is going on in Aalter, where non-Belgians have to wait much longer for domiciliation? « The only goal is to discourage »
The morning and Pano conclude that the Verlinden cabinet was aware of the problems in Aalter. However, the politician denies that she was personal. After the editors of The morning and Pano The registration policy in Aalter-non-Belgians who moved to Aalter, had to wait nine times longer for their registration in the municipality than Belgians-she indicated an interview Villa Politica. « I was not aware of the file myself, » she said. Also opposite The morning her spokesperson indicated that the minister had no knowledge of the practices. However, the FPS has reminded its cabinet several times of the letter, according to conversations with those involved and e-mail traffic.
Read too. Aalter changes registration procedure for newcomers
