Belgium minister quits

Jacqueline Galant

The Belgian transport minister has resigned over accusations she ignored lapses in security at Brussels airport before the attacks of 22 March.A confidential document shows security lapses at Belgium's airports were identified by EU inspectors in 2015.


Minister Jacqueline Galant had denied having seen the report, which was leaked by opposition parties.
Attacks on Zaventem airport and a Brussels metro station by so-called Islamic State left 32 people dead.
Prime Minister Charles Michel had previously defended Ms Galant, and he had told parliament that her office had not seen the critical EU report.

However on Friday morning, following the publication of further documents on Thursday evening, Mr Michel said that "contrary to what was communicated to me" the report had been discussed, according to public broadcaster RTBF.

Mr Michel said he had met Ms Galant on Friday morning and following the meeting the minister submitted her resignation to the king.
Ms Galant wrote in her resignation letter that "the orchestrated and theatrical confusion of the last 48 hours prevents me from continuing in the performance of my duties".
The minister's resignation followed that of Belgian federal transport agency chief Laurent Ledoux on Thursday.

He had complained of a lack of funding from Ms Galant and said that the minister herself should "take responsibility and step aside".

Ms Galant said on Friday that she was shocked by the way Mr Ledoux had resigned, and said he was carrying out a "media crusade".

The 2015 European Commission report, published by public broadcaster RTBF (in French), cited "serious deficiencies" and said airport security programmes, air carriers and suppliers were "not adequately monitored".