Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) stands up for Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green). “Everything happened in full transparency,” he says. MR chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez stated earlier this week that there should be a committee of inquiry into the way in which the extension of the nuclear power stations was handled by Van der Straeten and the then CEO of high-voltage grid operator Elia, Chris Peeters.
Last year it was decided to keep two nuclear reactors open longer, with a view to security of supply. According to the MR chairman, people lied in the months before that decision in order to be able to stick to the nuclear phase-out. “I don’t know whether Chris Peeters himself lied, you need an investigative committee for that,” he said in an interview. “But I am convinced that the Minister of Energy has instrumentalized certain data and reports. Elia has thus played a political role in this file.”
Tinne Van der Straeten then announced that she plans to file a complaint against Bouchez for defamation.
“Everything happened in full transparency and all documents have been released,” Alexander De Croo said in a response. “For me this is a rearguard action, extra time has been decided. Together we have succeeded in bringing this very difficult file to a successful conclusion. The rest of Europe, Germany for example, looks with envy at what we have done.”