Ethics Row Over Official's Return, €9M Gold Uncovered
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A fresh political ethics controversy is unfolding in Belgium, as the re-employment of a controversial former top official from VDAB under the Flemish regional president, Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), has sparked significant outrage from the opposition and created friction within the government. This situation has brought a challenging social debate to the forefront, as highlighted by Jean-Luc Crucke, the Minister of Mobility and Climate. Separately, a significant and unexpected discovery of 9 million euros in gold was made during a renovation in Dendermonde, raising questions about ownership.
Meanwhile, the 30-year mark since the Marc Dutroux affair is prompting extensive media review and public discourse, with reflections on missed opportunities. In positive news, Saliyya Guisse secured a silver medal for Belgium in the triple jump at the European Athletics Championships, though concerns are also being raised about a high number of Belgian medal hopefuls suffering injuries at the event.
Other domestic developments include reports of doubled wait times for non-European Union travelers at Brussels Airport this summer. Despite persistent drought conditions, Belgian rivers and waterways have remarkably remained navigable.