Pro-deoadvocaten must now also wait for Payments from Justice
© Marc Herremans – Mediahuis
After the interpreters, the judicial psychiatrists and the law doctor, the pro-deopvocates must now also wait for payments from justice.
Source: Own reporting
Yesterday at 13:23
Anyone who has to go to court in Belgium and do not have money to pay a lawyer can rely on the Fund for Legal Tweedline Aid, and apply for a pro-deopvocaat. After all, everyone has the right to a fair trial, even those who are unable. Those pro-roadvocates are paid by the judiciary.
Pro-deoadvocaten have to wait for a while for their money for a while. These payments are made at a number of fixed moments, and the next sum would be deposited in May 2025. But the FPS Justice and the cabinet of Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) have announced that the money cannot be paid: there is no money.
« Because the federal budget has not been approved, the government must work with preliminary twelfth, » explains the Order of Flemish Balies (OVB) on its website. « For the first half of 2025 there is 100 million euros available, while around 150 million euros is needed. » It would be 3,700 lawyers. A specific payment date is not in sight.
« This situation touches on the core of the rule of law, » says the OVB. « If payments are postponed to lawyers or are not guaranteed, the operation of the system of legal second -line assistance will be under serious pressure. Fewer lawyers will be willing to participate in this, which threatens access to the most vulnerable. »(cell)
