Belgian prison crisis provokes mixed reactions from majority, opposition parties

The damage caused to the Belgian Ministry of Justice during a protest of prison officers have provoked reactions from the political majority and opposition, local press reported Tuesday.

The Flemish nationalist party N-VA, particularly criticizes socialist political parties of the country.

John Crombez, President of the Flemish Socialist Party (sp.a), said on his Twitter account that "The destruction and violence are not allowed. The discussion must prevail if not you are only losers."

The Flemish nationalist deputy, Werner Janssen, judged for his conviction expressed by John Crombez "not credible".

According to Janssen, the socialist parties "sow discord" and work for a "deliberate misinformation".

The president of the N-VA, Bart de Wever, also criticized the socialist party on social networks. He stressed that "the situation in prisons is anything but optimal, but it is a strike because of the policy of PS, a party that has been a quarter century in power."

"All my support to reforms of Koen Geens (Minister of Justice). The violent trade union action today is unacceptable," he said.

Elio Di Rupo, leader of the Socialist party, was then responded to the remarks of the president of the N-VA.

"Bart De Wever must assume his responsibility as President of the first party of a government that is killing justice and public services," said Di Rupo.

While condemning all forms of violence, the president of the Socialist Party pointed to the "ineffective austerity politics" of the Belgian federal government "that puts a knife to the throat of the people."

The Flemish green party Groen notes that "the dialogue must come from both sides. With this entry into force, you put yourself offside".

The president of the party, Meyrem Almaci and his legal specialist Stefaan Van Hecke has condemned the breaches of the Ministry of Justice. "This is not a social action but pure vandalism. Discuss, please!"

"For weeks, Koen Geens is a man of dialogue. A strange way of rewarding him," has meanwhile said President of the Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V), Wouter Beck, who called the unions to get around the negotiating table.

Kris Peeters, Christian Democrat Minister of the Employment in the federal gouvernment, also deplored the incidents occurred, saying "The violence is totally unacceptable. Results can only be obtained at the negotiating table."

Hundreds of prison guards and union activists gathered Tuesday outside the headquarters of the Reformist Movement (MR) party and the Federal Public Service (SPF) Justice in Brussels.

Police said the demonstrators gathered to challenge the way the federal government responded to the strikes that have rocked the prisons in Brussels and Wallonia, the largely French-speaking region of Belgium, for several weeks.

According to local media, the social action turned violent and the police had to intervene.

The federal government has been beset by harsh criticism for several weeks about its prison policy. Endit