Following two controversies sparked this week by the Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs, and the Middle Classes, David Clarinval, the Ecolo-Groen parliamentary group leader, Sarah Schlitz, is calling on the Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee, Denis Ducarme, to convene an extraordinary session to hear the Minister’s recent statements.
These statements concern, firstly, information provided by the National Employment Office (ONEM), and secondly, the origin of job seekers. “The statements made by a federal Minister in the media and on his social networks are serious. Firstly, they are detrimental to the unions, which are the partners with whom he must negotiate his reforms. His unfounded attacks jeopardize social dialogue,” stated Sarah Schlitz.
Sarah Schlitz
Sarah Schlitz also deplores the Minister’s attitude, who invited citizens to contact the National Employment Office (ONEM) Contact Center directly, even though he is supposed to know that this service does not have all the information about each job seeker. “Wasn’t he aware of this? Or is he trying to mislead citizens? In any case, this undermines trust in our institutions: citizens no longer know who to turn to.”
Ecolo reiterates that transparency and accountability are essential conditions for trust between citizens and their institutions. Public representatives have a duty to provide accurate information, not to sow doubt. Finally, the Ecolo-Groen group leader reacted with indignation to the Minister’s discriminatory remarks regarding the nationality of job seekers. “By declaring that some Belgians are not ‘true Belgians’ because they were not born Belgian to two Belgian-born parents, Minister Clarinval is not only bringing shame upon Belgium, he is violating its laws and constitution. He is replacing the legal and constitutional definition of Belgian nationality with a racist definition based on a fantasized ethnic identity, in the manner of Zemmour or Orban.”
Sarah Schlitz
At such a level of responsibility, a member of the federal government should be defending an inclusive society, founded on equal treatment and respect for everyone, regardless of their origin. Fueling divisions or pitting citizens against each other based on their origins has no place in public debate.
For Sarah Schlitz, the seriousness of these statements justifies an urgent hearing for Minister Clarinval before the Social Affairs Committee. “Respect for social partners, trust in institutions and equality between all citizens are at the heart of our democracy. Parliament must fully play its oversight role to guarantee a just, inclusive and respectful society for all.”
