“The army must defend the integrity of territory. Usually, soldiers do it on our borders or far beyond them. However, the fight against drug -related crime is also included in the scope of protection of our territory,” said Quintin in an interview published on Saturday, September 6, in the newspaper “de Standaard”.
Last month, the Brussels prosecutor Julien Moinil condemned the escalation of violence, informing about 57 shootings this year, of which 20 took place in the summer. The situation is further deteriorated.
The prosecutor – covered by police protection in connection with the threats of drug dealers – earned earlier by EUR 10 million (approx. 42 million 600,000 PLN, counting at the current currency exchange rate) to improve security in Brussels, but stated that the authorities do not provide him with the necessary funds.
Warned that Innocent citizens are currently exposed to the risk of drawing in a spiral of violence. “Every inhabitant of Brussels can be hit by a stray ball,” he said.
On the eve of budget negotiations, the Belgian Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden asks for an additional EUR 1 billion (approx. 4 billion 260 million PLN, counting at the current exchange rate) for its resort.
Bernard Quintin He described the security situation in his hometown as “catastrophic”. In an interview with Politico, he sharply criticized the insolent behavior of drug dealers in the city.
Continuation of the material under the video
“We are currently almost in a situation where the guy comes, spreads his small chair, sets a table and an umbrella,” he said.
Quintin stated in an interview with “de Standaard” that, according to the new plan, soldiers would operate in mixed teams, patrolling with the police. Their activities will focus around the metro station and some districts, such as Peterbos in the Anderlecht commune in the southwestern part of Brussels.
Quintin stated that The political decision to send soldiers has already been madebut the details must still be refined. He presses to implement the plan “as soon as possible”.
On Saturday, September 6, the defense minister Theo Francken stated in the post to X that the legal framework for sending soldiers to the streets is ready, and the project will soon be sent to the Council of Ministers.
“Our capital, Brussels, is a security disaster. We must regain control,” Francken wrote.
Radical means to stop the crisis
The plan is already controversial.
“Could we not start with the spending of EUR 10 million (approx. 42 million 600,000 PLN, counting at the current currency exchange rate), which Julien Moinil (Brussels prosecutor) asked to solve the problem of lack of security in our capital? VLD in Brussels.
Quintin's proposal is part of a wider plan regarding “large cities”, which includes, among others, an increase in supervision using monitoring cameras. In addition to the Brussels region, this plan also includes the cities of Antwerp, Gandawa, Liege, Charleroi and Mons.
Policeman at the site of the shooting in Brussels (illustrative photos)
Attempts at authorities aimed at fighting drug -related crime in Brussels take place in the context of the prolonged political paralysis in the capital, because the Brussels region has not yet managed to create a government after the election in June 2024.
David Leisterh, the Brussels leader of the French -speaking liberal MR Quintina party, told La Libre on Saturday that it may be necessary to organize new elections. The national leader of his party, Georges-Louis Bouchez, repeated on Friday evening that Brussels would “inevitably” be controlled by the national government.
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