2,100 recruitments to the Brussels government violate the language legislation

Never before has compliance with language legislation by Brussels local authorities been so poor. That is the conclusion of the N-VA from the annual report of the Brussels Vice-Governor, who monitors compliance with language legislation by local authorities. In the meantime, the Brussels government is doing … nothing.

On Wednesday, the Brussels Vice-Governor published his annual report for 2021. This shows that the number of illegal recruitments reached an all-time high with 2,100 suspension decisions. The number of suspensions had already risen sharply in recent years. Parity at the managerial level also remains virtually non-existent, and the number of complaints due to lack of bilingual service is higher than ever.

Year after year, compliance with language legislation deteriorates

“Those who hoped that the Minister for Multilingualism Sven Gatz (Open Vld party) would finally ensure better compliance with the language legislation were disappointed,” says Brussels N-VA group chair Cieltje Van Achter.  “The Vice-Governor suspended 2,100 recruitments in the past year, of which the government again did not annul any. Year after year, compliance with language legislation is getting worse. It seems as if the ministers of the Open Vld, Groen and Vooruit parties really don’t care at all.”

Disgrace

Flemish MP Annabel Tavernier also accuses the Brussels municipal authorities and government of lacking a social side. “The language legislation must ensure that everyone is helped in their own language by the government, the police and hospitals. The fact that you do not have that guarantee as a Fleming in your own capital is a disgrace. When will the Brussels municipalities finally prove that they are serious? When will they finally realise that we Flemings are full citizens?”

Quid Groen, Open Vld and Vooruit?

“All resolutions that we submit to make the government aware of its responsibility and to comply with the language legislation are also voted down by the Dutch-speaking parties,” says Cieltje Van Achter. “However, the majority will have a second chance this summer. That’s when parliament will consider our proposal to ensure that the regional and local authorities comply with the language legislation. I am curious to see how our colleagues in the Groen, Open Vld and Vooruit parties will vote then.”