Disgraced Walloon Parliament Clerk Frédéric Janssens has been forced to resign following a disciplinary review that revealed 22 allegations of misconduct.
Nine days after the Appeals Chamber unanimously voted for Janssen's permanent resignation, the Bureau of the Walloon Parliament has confirmed the decision, re-asserting that "trust is irreparably broken."
The regional official's initial suspension came about in September 2022 following 13 separate counts of bullying. A subsequent investigation revealed further misconduct relating to abuses of power and the misallocation of public funds.
A hearing in December heard Janssens argue that he was a "scapegoat" for structural issues in the Parliament. He admitted wrongdoing but denied sole responsibility for his actions.
On allegations of abusive behaviour in the workplace – one leaked audio recorded Janssens telling one staff member "you’ll end up in the morgue by noon" – the former Clerk said: "I apologise to those I have disappointed, but I repeat that I am not a bully."
Janssens has the option to appeal the most recent decision against him.
Loose spending
On top of harassment allegations, Janssens' fall from grace is due to gross financial mismanagement which contributed to public spending exceeding the budget by €36 million in 2022.
Loose spending on restaurant bills and transport costs constitute Janssen's most egregious errors. Between 2019 and 2021, he spent €74,000 on meals, and €27,261 of this was spent in 2019 (€110 per working day).
In the same three-year period, Janssens amassed €2,442.60 in French motorway charges when travelling to his second home in Marseille. He also spent €1,543.29 on taxis between 2017 and 2022 despite having a personal driver.
