PS MP accuses Georges-Louis Bouchez of « Racism », MR chairman demands apologies
PS MP Ridouane Chahid has accused MR chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez of Racism, in the way the liberal foreman had denounced fraud with social benefits within the Moroccan community. Bouchez denies those allegations and demands apologies from the PS.
« Georges-Louis Bouchez follows the extreme right and looking for the voices of racist voters, » Loke the Socialist Member of Parliament and also the mayor of Evere on Friday at BX1. « That is racism, that is clear, because he is stigmatizing the Moroccan community. »
Bouchez had charged fraud with social benefits on Wednesday with RTL RTL. « Some people have ownership abroad. There are people with houses in Morocco who receive social benefits in Belgium. Of course this is checked. »
Instead of visiting a community in particular, according to Chahid, it would be better to tackle all forms of abuse, and in particular « those who have housed millions offshore » and « to improve and make a reality. » In Bouchez’s statements, he sees a strategy to divert attention from the « broken electoral promises », such as the increase in purchasing power or the savings in pensions.
« No value judgment, but facts »
« There is no value judgment against Morocco. These are facts, » Bouchez responds on Friday morning. A study by the Flemish administration within the social housing companies clearly objectified the existence of such fraud last year, says Bouchez. « On 941 studies, the housing companies had discovered in 482 cases that the beneficiary of the home has a property abroad, or just over half. »
In addition, according to Bouchez, Belgium and Morocco agree to exchange information to prevent social fraud. « That is indeed proof that something is wrong. »
It does not happen every day that a party chairman of racism is accused. The statements expose tensions between PS and MR and are certainly not of such a nature that they will improve the relationship between socialists and liberals in the capital, where it has been waiting for a new government for ten months.
« By labeling everything that does not fit in her stall as racist, » the PS emerges as « the useful idiot of the extreme right », because that word « will no longer have any value, » Bouchez Lakt. He expects apologies from the PS and calls on party chairman Paul Magnette to take control of his party again.
