« This is a cry for help about the State of Justice »: Write all the public prosecutors together Open Letter (Brussels) for the first time
« Historical », East Flemish attorney Geert Merchiers called the meeting of the fifteen judicial bosses of our country. Any exaggeration was not strange to him. It is certain that it has never happened that the fifteen public prosecutors of our country-from Luxembourg to West Flanders-put their name together under an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V).
« This is a cry for help about the alarming state of justice »
Geert Merchiers
Attorney East Flanders
For merchiers and co. the lower limit has gradually reached. With prisons that have been structurally overcrowded for a decade, with investigations that have been dismissed by staff shortage, with punishments that are pronounced but never or are never carried out, with interpreters, psychiatrists or branchers who have to beg for a correct fee for their work for justice. With magistrates, he said, who have to work in buildings where mold sticks to the walls, the roofs leak and the vermin is never far away. Where colleagues have to bring their own coffee, as well as determining that the toilets are overrun and the toilet paper is on.
« Without consultation »
And so merchiers and Vincent Fiasse, Attorney of Charleroi, read a letter integrally that they subsequently sent towards Wetstraat 16. « This is a cry for help about the alarming state of justice, » said Merchiers. « There is great anxiety among our magistrates. Despite weeks of smaller protests, we do not hear us. There is a schizophrenic situation, there is also a difference between words and actions of this government. We have been complaining for years that the overcrowding must be tackled. But we cannot do that ourselves. » When asked how much money is needed, it remained strikingly quiet.
All attorneers signed the letter, after which it went on the post towards De Wever and Verlinden.
However, the charges of the country’s highest magistrates are not new. About the lambal state of the buildings, about the apparent impunity, about the digital transformation that is not forthcoming despite major promises, about the government that mumbles their pension « without any consultation » and about the decreasing attractiveness of their profession. « We are passionate people, but we lack resources, » said Fiasse. « It is urgent time for a long -term vision, for more structural investments instead of ad hoc measures. »
The attorneers, collectively in line for the signing of the letter, said the established thematic working groups by minister Verlinden. « But it should not remain theoretical frameworks. Justice is structurally under -financed, tackle that instead of always meeting. »
Justice minister Annelies Verlinden immediately responded to the room. – © Belga
Even before the letter to Verlinden posted, she responded immediately in the room on Thursday afternoon. « I did not wait for this letter to get started with the concerns of the employees and magistrates. I have argued for sufficient resources for the judiciary when I took office. The needs are great, it is my conviction that we as a government should be ambitious, » she said. « In addition, I had repeated consultations with the magistrate. Their concerns about the workload, infrastructure, digital support, safety issues and the employment conditions, I share. »
Or will acts follow after words? The CD&V politician states. She hopes that those working groups will lead to an action plan and extra resources in the next phase. « Since the prime minister and this government are of paramount importance, I am convinced that there will be a willingness to realize the reinforcement of the judiciary in the coming months and years. »
