The Flemish government is facing internal tensions due to controversial support grants.
Tensions are rising within the Flemish government coalition due to two controversies regarding support, the first concerning Education Minister Zuhal Demir from the N-VA party, and the second involving Agriculture Minister Jo Brouns from the CD&V party. The dispute is set to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
The crisis began before Christmas when Minister Demir awarded an 8.25 million euro contract to an educational expertise center affiliated with Thomas More University College through a secret bidding process. The center is responsible for preparing the implementation of the new 'minimum goals' in Flemish education, which define what students should learn during their years of study, as well as supervising a number of schools as models to inspire other schools.
The support granting process faced criticism, as a public tender was initially launched and then halted by the minister. The financial oversight authority described the procedure as 'not a good policy', despite the government approving the grant. Demir expressed her dissatisfaction with the coalition partners, CD&V and the socialist party Vooruit, who joined the opposition in calling for hearings on the grant.
Separately, N-VA MP Andy Pieters announced that he will question Minister Brouns about a grant of 5 million euros awarded to a coalition around a non-profit organization called Boerenbond Projecten vzw. It is said that a former member of the CD&V office became the director of the non-profit organization shortly before the grant was awarded, raising questions about transparency within the coalition.
The two issues were discussed indirectly in the Council of Ministers. The CD&V party defended the Boerenbond Projecten grant, pointing out that it received a positive recommendation from N-VA Finance Minister Ben Weyts, emphasizing that the involvement of a former office member in the sector is not unusual. Minister Demir confirmed that there is no crisis in the government and criticized Vooruit for attacking decisions that were collectively approved. Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele called for a rational and honest discussion to resolve the tensions.