Alexander De Croo

In February 2026, the Belgian Competition Authority holds bpost, DPG Media, Mediahuis, PPP and two individuals responsible for manipulating the tender process for the 2023-2027 newspaper distribution concession. The contract was handled under the De Croo government.

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Georges-Louis Bouchez calls for a parliamentary inquiry into preparations for extending the operation of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, focusing primarily on Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and the former head of Elia. De Croo defends his minister and states that the process was entirely transparent.

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On 26 July 2024, the Council of the European Union opens an excessive deficit procedure against Belgium, whose 2023 public deficit reached 4.4% of GDP against a reference value of 3%. The procedure begins towards the end of De Croo's term.

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In the June 2024 federal elections, Open VLD suffers a heavy defeat and falls to ninth place nationally. De Croo acknowledges the result, accepts political responsibility and announces his resignation, while remaining head of a caretaker government until the formation of the next government.

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Legal status — source text

Not applicable

The Belgian-Iranian treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons becomes highly controversial because it could allow Assadollah Assadi, sentenced in Belgium to twenty years in a terrorism case, to return to Iran. The Constitutional Court initially partially suspends the mechanism, then dismisses the annulment challenge in March 2023 while requiring a balancing of rights and notification of victims.

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Attribution

Shared responsibility

On 26 May 2023, Olivier Vandecasteele is released by Iran and returns to Belgium, while Assadollah Assadi is released by Belgium in an exchange mediated by Oman. Three other Europeans are subsequently released as part of the same diplomatic process.

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In Camara v. Belgium, decided on 18 July 2023, the ECtHR finds a violation of Article 6 and a systemic problem of failure to enforce judicial decisions requiring accommodation for asylum seekers during De Croo's term.

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State Secretary Nicole de Moor decides temporarily to stop allocating reception places to single men in order to prioritise families, women and children. The Council of State suspends the decision in September 2023 for breaching the statutory right to reception.

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Visas are issued to Iranian and Russian delegations invited to the Brussels Urban Summit. The affair triggers a political crisis after it emerges that De Croo's office had been consulted and had approved the decision, while formal responsibility for visas lay with Foreign Affairs. Minister Hadja Lahbib survives a no-confidence motion.

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Bpost reports that a compliance review indicates possible overpayments in several public contracts. Separately, Petra De Sutter's ministerial office is criticised for employing experts who were still paid by bpost. De Croo maintains his confidence in De Sutter and announces a code of conduct between ministers and public companies.

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Following the attack of 16 October 2023, it emerges that a Tunisian extradition request concerning the attacker had been forwarded to the Brussels prosecutor's office but had not been processed by the responsible magistrate. Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne resigns, accepting political responsibility.

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In May 2023, De Croo calls for a pause in adding certain new European regulations on nature, biodiversity or chemicals, citing competitiveness and implementation capacity. The position attracts strong criticism, including from within his coalition.

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Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Eva De Bleeker resigns following the submission of conflicting budget figures to Parliament and the European Union. WhatsApp messages published subsequently fuel allegations that the Prime Minister's office had approved certain elements it claimed to have challenged.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Political responsibility

As Minister for the Digital Agenda and Telecommunications, De Croo co-signs the law of 29 May 2016 requiring, among other things, the twelve-month retention of extensive traffic, location and identification data relating to electronic communications. Following a reference for a preliminary ruling to the EU Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court annuls most of the contested scheme in 2021.

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Under the De Croo government, associations challenge the legal basis of public health restrictions introduced by ministerial decree. A first-instance court orders the state to provide an adequate legal basis, but the Brussels Court of Appeal reverses the decision in interim proceedings and does not find the measures manifestly devoid of a legal basis.

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Eveline Dellai tells Italian media that Alexander De Croo allegedly wrote to her and wished to meet her. She specifies that no meeting ultimately took place.

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On taking responsibility for Development Cooperation, De Croo pursues a policy combining substantial fiscal consolidation, geographical and sectoral concentration, and an increased role for the private sector. Development organisations denounce major cumulative cuts and Belgium's retreat from the target of allocating 0.7% of gross national income to aid.

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Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Shared responsibility

As Pensions Minister, De Croo co-signs the law of 13 December 2012 changing several rules governing public sector pensions and early retirement. Following applications by police officers, among others, the Constitutional Court annuls Article 3 in July 2014 because of unequal treatment affecting certain members of the integrated police, while preserving the effects of the annulled provision.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

As Open VLD leader, Alexander De Croo withdraws his party's confidence in Yves Leterme's government over the failure to reach an agreement on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. The withdrawal makes the coalition unviable and brings down the government, opening a prolonged institutional crisis.

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Legal status — source text

Not applicable