Brussels – August 3, 2024 – Belgian magistrate Michel Claise, renowned for his work on major financial crime cases such as Qatargate, has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of corruption in Belgium.
His concerns come as Transparency International, the Eurobarometer, and the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) all highlight the country’s inadequate response to rising corruption levels.
“Corruption here isn’t episodic,” Claise told The Brussels Times. “I wouldn’t say it’s entirely systemic, but it’s unquestionably present. There is an underlying structure that makes it thrive.”
A Culture of Corruption in Municipal Administrations
Claise pointed to Brussels’ municipal administrations as hotspots for corruption, where bribery and fraudulent document production have become common practices.
He described how intermediaries facilitate bribes to municipal officials in exchange for services such as forged driving licenses, residence permits, and building permits.
“You have intermediaries who take large sums from people needing papers,” Claise explained. “Then they bribe municipal officials. This has become routine in certain communes.”
Recent police raids have uncovered widespread forgery networks operating at the communal level, revealing the extent of the issue. Additionally, cases have surfaced where local police officers accepted payments to validate fictitious addresses, enabling individuals to fraudulently obtain residency or work permits.
Anderlecht CPAS Scandal: A Symptom of a Larger Problem
The CPAS (Public Centre for Social Welfare) of Anderlecht was recently exposed in an undercover investigation by VRT, in which journalists posing as student applicants received financial aid using false information.
The scandal revealed that hundreds of fraudulent claims for social benefits were approved without adequate verification.
Mustapha Akouz (PS), who led the Anderlecht CPAS from 2018 to mid-2024, was accused of cronyism and abuse of power.
Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne described Akouz’s office as the “corridor of miracles,” where aid applications were mysteriously approved without proper scrutiny.
“These are public servants too,” Claise remarked. “The same vulnerabilities exist whether in CPAS administrations or other local services.”
A Justice System Overwhelmed
Claise underscored the chronic underfunding of Belgium’s anti-corruption institutions, stating that investigators are struggling to keep up with the sheer volume of cases.
“We’re facing a tsunami of cases with a paper boat,” he said. “The system cannot keep up. Some elites act as if they are untouchable.”
The Central Office for Corruption Repression (CTIF) and local police departments suffer from severe staff shortages, exacerbating the problem.
Call for a National Anti-Corruption Agency
Despite Belgium ranking 16th in Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, public trust is waning. In 2024, the country fell to 22nd place, with 66% of Belgians perceiving corruption as widespread.
Claise has called for the creation of an independent anti-corruption agency, modeled after France’s, to address the issue effectively.
“What we are detecting is just the tip of the iceberg,” Claise warned. “And the longer we wait, the more trust in our democratic institutions erodes.”
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
