Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has defended former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, describing him as a "excellent Justice Minister" whose recent decision to resign "is not linked to a personal fault on his part".
"I think he has been an excellent Justice Minister, but he has decided to take responsibility following particularly serious individual misconduct committed at the level of the Brussels Prosecutor's Office," De Croo said on Saturday.
Van Quickenborne's departure stems from his Ministry's failure to deport Tunisian national Abdessalem Lassoued following the latter's failed asylum application three years ago.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
On Monday evening, Lassoued killed two Swedish citizens in Brussels. The 45-year-old self-proclaimed "follower of ISIS" died on Tuesday morning after being shot by Belgian police at a café not far from his home in Schaerbeek.
De Croo also claimed that Van Quickenborne's departure and the circumstances that led to it would "not weaken" his so-called "Vivaldi" coalition government.
"The Minister has taken political responsibility even if his decision is not linked to a personal fault on his part. We have always been transparent about the information we have as we go along since Tuesday," he said.
"In the dramatic circumstances such as those we are experiencing, it is important that the government acts quickly. That is what is expected of him and that is what we are doing," he added.
Strengthened security
De Croo's comments followed a meeting of the "Kern", an exclusive ministerial gathering which includes Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and other senior government officials. The aim of the meeting was to achieve "complete transparency" regarding the possible failings of the Belgian authorities following Monday's attack.
In a subsequent press release, the Federal Government noted that the Brussels Public Prosecutor's office will be strengthened with an additional five magistrates.
Furthermore, the Brussels judicial police will be supplemented by 50 additional full-time employees and the capital's transport security will be reinforced to the tune of 25 full-time people.
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The exchange of information between the Foreigners' Office, the police and the justice system will be improved. These departments will also soon conduct their own investigations into the course of events that led to Monday's attack.
In addition, a plan will be put in place to improve the digitisation of the security services with priority given to the interlinking of the databases of the various services. Notably, this will include a database of judicial orders to leave Belgium.
