N-VA again blocks hearing of VRT CEO, other parties are not happy about it: “Active obstruction”

A new attempt to summon the CEO of the VRT to parliament has failed. N-VA once again puts Frederik Delaplace out of the wind. “This is active obstruction,” say other parties.

Coup de théâtre in the Flemish Parliament. Some MPs once again attempted to summon the CEO of the VRT, Frederic Delaplace, to ask him for an explanation of the series of scandals that have recently plagued the VRT.

But that was not taken into account by N-VA. Just before a vote was to take place on the “arrangement of activities”, in which the VRT boss would be summoned, Marius Meremans (N-VA) left the Culture and Media committee. As a result, the meeting did not have a quorum and voting could not take place. The VRT top escapes the dance again.

“It is indisputable that N-VA is stopping this,” responds Orry Van de Wauwer (CD&V), who had applied for the scheme. “This is obstruction of the work of parliament.” Opposition member Katia Segers (Vooruit) also talks about “active obstruction”.

In order to vote, a minimum number of MPs must be present. It led to a whole game of musical chairs. When Katia Segers (Vooruit) entered the meeting, Manuela Van Werde (N-VA) left. And when people from Groen and Open VLD joined, Marius Meremans (N-VA) left. By repeatedly leaving, the N-VA members kept the number of MPs required to vote too low.

In this way, N-VA once again keeps the VRT top out of the wind – for the fifth time now. One of the criticisms to which Delaplace should respond is that the VRT under his leadership makes programs tailor-made for the Flemish government of Prime Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA).

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