Members of the Walloon Parliament in Namur will no longer be permitted to consume alcohol at their official bar, the office of the parliament announced on Thursday.
The measure had been under consideration for several weeks and will enter into force at the end of the week.
Last month, President of the Walloon Parliament Willy Borsus announced the plans to end the supply of free and unlimited alcoholic beverages for French-speaking parliamentarians. This follows the example of its Flemish counterpart, which banned alcohol sales at the Flemish Parliament in Brussels in February 2023.
"The office has decided that the Walloon Parliament will no longer serve alcoholic beverages," Borsus announced. Exceptions may be granted to official receptions and other events organised by the parliament.
In the Federal Parliament, members of parliament are entitled to spend €191.50 per year in the official bar on site. This allowance has been refused by the radical left party PTB/PVDA which forbids its members from drinking alcohol in the building.
