Open Vld member Goedele Liekens has been criticized for submitting late costs for a business trip to New York, but he fiercely defends himself: ‘This is a witch hunt’ | internal

The Federal Parliament’s management committee says the Chamber is considering a number of submissions from MPs who would have organized their own functions – without involving the House – including Open Vld MP Jodelie Likens. Likens only presented a receipt for her plane tickets before the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women after her official trip to New York.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, the Chamber is taking the matter very seriously, but Likens disputes this in response to HLN. The only thing I can be blamed for is the late charge deposit. The business trip itself was quite usual and legitimate.” Likens—at the invitation of the Belgian Consul General—traveled to New York to advocate for women’s rights. In addition, she also gave a speech to Belgium, since the members of the government present were no longer available. these costs.”

And Mediwis newspapers reported that the House of Representatives decided not to send a member to the convention this year, but that was also wrong, according to Likens. “The House has been sending a representative for ten years. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen this year. It’s such nonsense that I did it on my own.” The MP repeats that the fuss is simply about being late for plane tickets. “Simple human error,” says Likens, who deplores the “witch hunt” surrounding the matter.

According to Likens, it has reimbursed half of the costs it incurred due to the delay in submission. “The trip would have been paid for in full if we had knocked on the door of the right service at the right time.” Likens says he wouldn’t have been in trouble if costs could no longer be recovered, but now he regrets the fuss that surrounded him.

Her colleague, Christian Lesen, also made an appearance on Wednesday. According to the Mediois newspapers, Lesn asked for 780.76 euros to attend a parliamentary meeting organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. However, the Chamber has already authorized Benoit Bidbeuf (MR).

So he signed up on his own initiative, without going through the room, but then asking to be reimbursed for his expenses, including €186 for a TGV from Lille to Paris, €286.66 for hotel costs and €208.50 for dinner. He defends himself in Het Nieuwsblad, but maintains that he will withdraw his demand for reimbursement. “I didn’t know there was a problem: call it a procedural error.”