Minister MR explains that it is an error in the administration. But refuses to meet the request of this same opposition: to receive the document which attests to this error from the Wallonia Public Service (SPW).
The PS and Ecolo therefore dig to their side and obtain the document via the Court of Auditors, just like the PTB which also requests it. What we read there is that the SPW had made a request of 27 million at the initial 2025, to take into account the new rental occupations of the administration (the Cap Sud, Cross Point buildings, etc.)
The two opposition parties therefore denounce a lie in the leader of the minister.
The Minister says it: “There was no lie !“And within his cabinet, we regret”A little political game “ et “A storm in a glass of water“.
“Review the real estate strategy”
On June 28, 2024, therefore under the previous legislature, the SPW requests for a budget of 27 million (27,083,682.87 € for the initial budget 2025, at the rent of the buildings of buildings which host Walloon civil servants and € 874,700 of tax base to pay.
It is also this request that Jacqueline Galant puts on the table of government on September 4, 2024.
But during the budget conclave in December, “The government decides to maintain the amount provided for in the initial 2024 (Editor’s note: 21.2 million) “. And this is where we find the famous meeting clause:”Its ambition is to quickly start a revision of the real estate strategy of the Walloon Region “.
According to the minister’s office, the Walloon administration is in fact the same request as for the initial budget: € 27 million and the € 874,700 in losses, plus € 121,000 for the depreciation of an administrative building.
Gap of 2.049 million
As of March, the minister’s office notes “an underestimation in this amount which, obviously, has not been updated“.
“Consequently, the firm requests an updating of it. The administration recognizes this inaccuracy and reviews its request upwards for rents up to 2,049,089.48 euros. The amount ultimately requested and obtained for adjustment and thus presented in committee in Parliament is 30.1 million (30.128,472.35 €).
“There was indeed an inaccuracy”
The Minister says she never rejected “The fault on no one” en commission. “The Minister indicates that there was an error in the calculation formulated by the administration for rents. This is in fact the calculation provided by the administration of 27,083,682.87 euros which should have been 29,132,772.35 euros (the difference of 2,049,089.48 euros therefore).”
So there is good “An inaccuracy in the budgetary writing formulated by the administration“, Maintains the cabinet.”And when it is addressed to Parliament, the Minister wishes to explain the difference resulting from the updating requested by the Cabinet“.
Instead of requesting 8,896,000 euros (nearly 9 million), she asked for 6,726,000 euros. There is obviously no lie.
The Minister’s office therefore repeats it: “Yes, there was an inaccuracy in the amounts communicated by the administration. Instead of requesting 8,896,000 euros (nearly 9 million), she asked for 6,726,000 euros. There is obviously no lie.”
As she said in committee, the adjustment is “sans impact“On the operation of the administration or the region.”The government simply applied an appointment clause for the 2025 adjustment during the initial 2025 “.
In committee, twice, the minister has nevertheless shown himself much less precise on all of the deputies’ questions.
