The office of Federal State Secretary for the Directorate of Buildings Mathieu Michel (MR) is not happy with what they label as a ‘demarche’ and an example of ‘electoral cinema’ by Persoons. “We explained to her in December that the procedures for the renovations are underway. To be honest, we find it bizarre that she is now going to court,” the cabinet said. “Ms Persoons will only lose time with her legal procedures. We do do our job.”
Procedures
The Michel cabinet also denies that no plans are ready: “The plans are ready, but we are bound by the procedures. It is true that no budget has yet been released. To this end, the State Secretary is still waiting for the decision of the next Federal Council of Ministers that will decide on the repairs to the Chinese Pavilion.”
Michel’s spokesperson also responds that a public tender has already been issued for stabilization works on the Japanese Tower, although it could not be found by the editors. The State Secretary would await the outcome.
Matter of priorities
The Michel Cabinet also admits that it is a matter of setting priorities. “Brussels has a lot of heritage, the Buildings Agency has already made a lot of efforts for, for example, the Greenhouses of Laeken or the Palace of Justice. And now we come to the dossier of the Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion in Laeken.”
In addition to the well-known Laeken monuments, State Secretary Persoons also points out the poor condition of two other pieces of urban heritage in Brussels: the Orangerie at the Hertoginnedal Castle in Oudergem and the swimming pool of the Résidence Palace on Wetstraat. Persoons is also calling on the Buildings Agency to renovate these monuments.
Tags: Persoons takes Michel court Japanese Tower case vague intentions
