Abolition of the Senate: not words, but deeds!

In the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper of 8 January, Senate President Stephanie D’Hose (Open VLD party) called for the abolition of the Senate. N-VA group leader in the Senate, Karl Vanlouwe, supports this call but criticises the lack of action: “I can only hope that Open VLD is serious this time and that these are more than empty words.”

The N-VA has consistently advocated the abolition of the Senate for many years now. Since the last State reform, this institution has become completely superfluous and thus a financial loss for citizens. It is therefore not surprising that the N-VA party leader in the Senate, Karl Vanlouwe, applauds the statements by Senate President D’Hose.

Open VLD lacks consistency

He does wonder about Open VLD’s lack of consistency and action: “I’m glad to hear President D’Hose call for the abolition of the Senate. But I only note that her party is not taking any concrete steps to achieve that abolition. I can only hope that Open VLD is serious this time and that these are more than empty words.”

Furthermore, during the previous legislature, Open VLD voted against the N-VA proposal to have the articles of the Constitution relating to the Senate declared subject to revision. Thus, the abolition of the Senate became impossible for at least four years.

Activist Senate

Moreover, Karl Vanlouwe questions the attitude of Open VLD in the Senate, which is often particularly activist: “Here at the N-VA, we are always complaining that the Senate is occupied with all kinds of matters beyond its extremely limited powers. However, little comes of it, even for Open VLD. Open VLD senators regularly submit proposals for resolutions or debates on themes that are not at all within the competence of the Senate.”