In an open letter, all of Belgium’s public prosecutors address the federal government in an attempt to raise the issue of what they call the ‘alarming state of justice’. Relations between the world of politics and the country’s magistrates have been becoming more and more strained for some time, but it is unprecedented that all the prosecutors jointly send a signal of this kind.
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‘Justice is exhausted. It is time to act’ Belgium's prosecutors say
Colin Clapson
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‘Historic’ is how the 15 public prosecutors call their open letter, which they signed together. ‘We want to draw your attention to the alarming state of justice in our country,’ it reads. ‘We hope you fully understand the importance and scope of this exceptional action.’
Relations between magistrates and politicians have been deteriorating for some time. Primarily because they fear cuts to their pensions due to the government's reforms. But the discontent goes beyond that: magistrates also raise the issue of the lamentable state of the judicial system: staff shortages, old buildings, etc.
‘Distressing and untenable’
Prosecutors call the situation ‘dire’ and ‘untenable’. They refer to the workload and staff shortages: "Where will we find enough police officers to conduct investigations, translators or interpreters, court experts, or towing services...?"
But the state of buildings is also raised: ‘Many buildings are in poor condition and pose significant risks to both our staff and the citizens who want to attend their cases; some ceilings are in danger of collapse. There is mould on the walls, vermin are running around.’
‘Investigations are conducted, interviews take place, but in the end, offenders are sentenced to jail terms that are hardly ever carried out. Young offenders or the many tens of thousands of minors in troubled parenting situations cannot be placed or helped due to a shortage of places in community institutions.’
‘Alternative sentences, which are promoted in the new penal code, are not carried out to a sufficient extent or only after excessive delays due to a lack of resources at justice houses or other partners in the judicial chain. This schizophrenic situation raises fundamental questions among citizens, victims of crime, and justice workers alike about the meaning of our daily hard work.’
Prosecutors also wonder ‘who will be held responsible should things go wrong somewhere in the justice chain’.
Demanding action from Prime Minister De Wever and Justice Minister Verlinden
The prosecutors are asking the government - and, more specifically, Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) and Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat CD&V) to ‘finally make serious efforts and the much-needed long-term structural investments’.