Belgians rally against PM’s migration deal
▶ Charles Michel faces elections if he fails to win over parliament after his coalition folds
Belgium’s right-wing opposition is seeking early national elections to capitalise on public unrest over a UN migration pact that sent thousands of protesters on to the streets of Brussels.
Prime Minister Charles Michel could be forced to hold elections in February if he fails to win parliament’s backing after his decision to back the deal brought down his ruling coalition.
Mr Michel travelled to Marrakesh, Morocco, this month to sign the pact, along with more than 150 other countries, despite losing four ministers from former coalition partner the New Flemish Alliance.
Analysts believe the alliance will have a surge in support because of its opposition to the vote and the coalition pull-out. It has called for a confidence vote in Mr Michel that could lead to national elections.
“That’s the reason why they want early elections, because that would be the Marrakesh elections,” said Prof Carl Devos, a political scientist at the University of Ghent.
One of four ministers to quit over the Marrakesh plan was Theo Francken, the hardline anti-migration chief, who had called for a public park to be “cleaned” of asylum seekers and accused a medical charity of involvement in people smuggling.
The deal has divided Belgian public opinion that has shifted towards more anti-migrant policies and leaders in line with much of Europe.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to break-up scuffles on Sunday after an estimated 5,500 people answered calls by far-right groups to descend on Brussels in protest at the Marrakesh agreement.
Many carried banners saying “Our people first” and “We have had enough, close the borders”, while others called on Mr Michel to quit. About 90 people were arrested in the skirmishes.
A counter-demonstration attracted about 1,000 people to another Brussels district, police said. Belgian authorities had initially banned both rallies fearing trouble but the country’s supreme administrative court, the Council of State, overturned the decision.
The leadership of Mr Michel, who claimed he still had the support of two thirds of the parliament for the pact, is now in the balance.
“In the name of my country, I assure you that Belgium is committed to supporting this migration pact,” he told the meeting.
The alliance, which favours quicker deportation of migrants, claimed that the pact meant giving up sovereignty over the country’s borders.
The agreement is designed to frame an effective international approach to migration but charities have voiced doubts about how it would work.
The agreement’s provisions are not legally binding and critics warn it could might encourage uncontrolled people flows.
A collapse of Mr Michel’s minority administration could lead to back-to-back elections in February and May 26 after four years of coalition rule.
Mr Michel has refused to hold a confidence motion but his budget plans for next year may become deadlocked without the backing of the alliance.
MPs could also push for a “vote of distrust” in the government, which would trigger polls in 40 days, Prof Devos said.
Whatever the outcome of the dispute, the northern European nation faces a return to the turbulence during which Belgium took 541 days to form a government after inconclusive 2010 national elections.
The deal has divided Belgian public opinion, that has shifted towards more anti-migrant policies and leaders