The Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office is taking action to denounce the Federal Government's underfunding of the justice system. From now on, it will focus on cases of government corruption and fraud.
The action comes as a result of the staff shortage and a number of measures taken by the Federal Government that are not making the profession of magistrate sufficiently attractive, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office reported on Monday.
"Given the alleged shortage of public funds, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office will primarily focus on cases of government corruption, embezzlement of public funds, taking interests and subsidy fraud in economic and financial matters," the Public Prosecutor's Office said in a press release.
As a result, staff of the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office will no longer participate in the sessions of the Sentencing Court, nor will it no issue advice. In the area of financial and economic crimes, they will only prosecute a limited number of crimes.
Underfunding and lack of response
The Management Committee of the Prosecutor's Office is taking these measures in consultation with the Attorney General and the other public prosecutors.
"This is as a result of the underfunding of the justice system and the lack of a rapid response from the Federal Government to our demands – such as filling in the administrative framework and making our functions insufficiently attractive," the statement read.
A meeting with the various trade unions will be held shortly to consider further actions.
In recent weeks, there has been considerable dissatisfaction within the judiciary about the pension reforms announced by the Federal Government. Staff fears a loss of purchasing power of 30% to 40% for retired magistrates if all the measures from the coalition agreement, the policy statement and the Easter agreement are added together.
Specifically, it concerns the limited indexation of pensions above €5,250 gross, the lack of transitional measures, and the fact that from 2027, staff must have been appointed before the age of 27 and must have bought off their years of study to build up a full pension.
Portalis building after a press conference by the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
The Public Prosecutor's Office has also announced actions against the interventions that the Federal Government wants to implement. For example, they no longer agree to the suspension of the execution of prison sentences – a measure to tackle overcrowding in prisons. To date, some 4,000 prison sentences have (temporarily) not been carried out.
Last week, an open letter was also published by a group of young magistrates, who received the support of 444 colleagues in a few days. In the text, they made clear that many young magistrates are doubting their career choice because of the announced measures. According to them, the pension measures are the last straw, after years of inadequate financing of justice.
Liège postpones systematic hearings
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Liège announced on Tuesday it would postpone systematic hearings in response to the pension plans of the Federal Government.
The hearings of the criminal court, the juvenile court, the commercial court and the police court in Liège have been delayed since Monday. However, magistrates retain the freedom to put cases on the agenda if they consider them to be a priority.
Additionally, the Prosecutor's Office announced that the hearings of the chamber and the sexual offences court will continue as usual.
