The N-VA will not take part in a foreign visit of the Commission on Belgium’s Colonial Past

At the beginning of September, a delegation of the Special Parliamentary Commission on Belgium’s Colonial Past will travel to the three former Belgian colonies, Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Each party may appoint one representative. However, the N-VA has decided not to take part.

“In our opinion, the visit is part of the Vivaldi government’s trial of intent to actively seek reparation and atonement for our colonial past at the expense of Belgian citizens. We are passing on this in favour of dialogue with the African community at home. We want to look to the future with Kinshasa, Kigali and Bujumbura, not dwell on the past. We think that is possible without parliament and ultimately also without the ordinary Flemish people paying the bill for it,” says MP Tomas Roggeman.