During the summer, Brussels was shaken by several shootings, prompting the Belgian liberal party Mouvement Réformateur – the Reformist Movement (MR) to propose bringing the army back onto the streets as a measure to increase security.
The President of the party, Georges-Louis Bouchez, stressed in a recent television interview that the current penalties for leaders of criminal gangs in Belgium are not severe enough and that the law should be tightened, according to reports by RTL info.
In addition, he advocated the rapid deployment of military units to the most problematic areas of Brussels, such as certain underground stations, Peterbos, and parts of Molenbeek, where the army would participate in joint patrols with the police.
Bouchez believes that the presence of the army not only increases the sense of security but also relieves the burden on the police force, which, in his opinion, has already proven effective during the Charles Michel government.
The defence sector is receiving a significant budget increase
He added that the defence sector in Belgium is currently receiving a significant budget increase, which is enabling it to expand its public security tasks. The MR party hopes that its proposals will gain the support of other political actors.
Domen Mezeg
