Flanders Largest shareholder Brussels Airport, PS: « Deliberate political strategy to weaken federal instruments »

« This operation is no coincidence. She fits into a deliberate political strategy: a gradual but methodical weakening of the federal instruments for the benefit of an increasingly pronounced Flemish regional power, » says MP Ridouane Chahid. « Brussels Airport is located in Flanders, but serves as a national – and even international – hub. It should remain a lever for the balance and cooperation between the regions. Today it will be a symbol for federal reduction and institutional withdrawal. »

The socialists ask « what about the French -speaking voices within the federal government. » « This goes much further than a purely economic file. It is a clear political warning: Flanders resists his pawns, strengthens its resources, extends its influence, while the French speakers look up the other way, » says Chahid.

The Flemish Government announced on Friday that it is investing 2.77 billion euros through the Vlaanderen (PMV) participation company to get 39 percent of the shares in Zaventem airport. The federal government has 25 percent of the shares in their pocket.

Also within Flanders, not everyone agrees with the operation. Green already protested on Friday against « the lack of vision and debate » about the decision. Open VLD’er Egbert Lachaert Lakt that there is 2.77 billion euros to « a Flemish lion in Zaventem ». « Every working Flemish gets about 1,000 euros in debt to make the airport ‘Flemish’. That is not a core task, » said Lachaert.

Independent MP Maurits Vande Reyde also opposes the plans. He criticizes that the Flemish debt is still increasing, but also believes that Flanders is therefore evolving into a « state economy, in which N-VA wants control over every company. » In any case, he does not want the decision to be able to pass through an amendment in the Flemish Parliament on Tuesday without discussion. Vande Reyde first wants a debate with PMV and the government.