Belgian Politician Sparks Outrage with Comments on Moroccan Property Owners Receiving Benefits

Georges-Louis Bouchez finds himself at the center of a heated controversy. "Some people have properties abroad. There are people who have houses in Morocco and receive social benefits in Belgium. Of course, this will be verified," he stated during his appearance on Bel RTL Wednesday morning. This sparked strong reactions. "It seems regrettable that his comments focus solely on this [Moroccan] community, without nuance," said Faiz, a 45-year-old teacher of Moroccan origin. According to him, the vast majority of citizens of Moroccan origin work, actively participate in Belgium’s economic life, and fulfill their tax obligations. For the forty-something, anyone should have their social benefits withdrawn if they own a house in Morocco, Italy, or Spain.

"When it comes to criticizing a community, it’s always the Moroccans who take the hit, while I’m sure there are many unemployed people of various origins who own houses abroad, not necessarily in Morocco," considers Faiz. He concludes: "It is profoundly unfair to stigmatize an entire community in this way, especially when one holds a position of responsibility." The remarks of the Reformist Movement (MR) president also provoked the irritation of socialist federal deputy Ridouane Chahid. "Georges-Louis Bouchez is chasing after the far right and seeking the votes of racist voters," he judged this Friday morning on BX1. "It’s racism, it’s clear because he stigmatizes the Moroccan community." According to him, Bouchez should have proposed to "fight against all forms of abuse," including "those who have millions offshore," which should be done, as well as "improving and making living together a reality" instead of targeting a particular community.

The MR president’s statements are actually a "strategy" to divert public attention from "unfulfilled (electoral) promises" of the MR, particularly regarding increasing workers’ purchasing power, or recent austerity measures in pensions, estimates the socialist elected official. Faced with the controversy, the MR president defends himself: "The figures have shown that a significant proportion of unemployed people with property abroad had chosen Morocco for their house. This doesn’t come from me." He cites a survey conducted by Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), then Flemish Minister of Housing, in 2023. At the time, this survey had allowed the recovery of 2 million euros in illegally received benefits, it is specified. According to him, if Belgium and Morocco have signed an information exchange agreement on this matter to avoid social abuses, it is "clear proof that there is a problem."

The liberal has rejected accusations of racism. For him, by "constantly treating everything he doesn’t like as racist," the PS will become "the useful idiot of the far right," because this word "will no longer have value." Georges-Louis Bouchez expects the socialist party to apologize to him. He also called on its president Paul Magnette to "regain control of his party." Ridouane Chahid "embodies the drift of the PS, which both protects cheaters and is mired in communitarianism," added the MR president.