Politically Appointed Officials Dominate Walloon Administration

Study Reveals Partisan Influence Over Key Public Service Roles

Despite prior attempts at reform, political affiliations continue to heavily influence appointments to crucial administrative positions within Wallonia. A recent analysis highlights a significant shift, with “committed” officials now holding a majority of key leadership and inspector roles.

“Committed” Surge in Top Positions

A study by Gerfa, a group focused on administrative reform, indicates a worrying trend of partisan appointments. The association’s latest publication, “diagnosis,” points to an increased presence of senior officials designated by political parties, particularly “the committed,” a label used for those affiliated with the majority coalition.

In one instance, a former secretary general of the SPW, **Sylvie Marique** (PS), was not reappointed. Stéphane Guisse, also a socialist, continues as interim DG of SPW Finance. Among eight managing director positions, “the committed” now hold four, displacing previous PS and Ecolo appointees.

Inspectors Show Heavy Partisan Weight

The analysis of general inspector roles reveals an even more pronounced partisan imbalance. Among 21 expert inspectors, “the committed” secured eight positions, surpassing the PS’s five. Four inspector general agents are now held by three “committed” individuals and one Ecolo representative.

Across all scrutinized positions, the PS holds 14 posts, the MR seven, Ecolo one, and “the committed” an imposing eighteen. Three positions remain unaffiliated.

“Unbearable” Partisan Control

Gerfa views this partisan cartography as deeply concerning. **Michel Legrand**, a long-time advocate for Gerfa, stated in “diagnosis,” “Establishing a partisan cartography of the region is already in itself worrying. This means that in Wallonia, it is impossible to occupy a management function without doing allegiance to political masters. It is obviously unbearable, because we do not see why political parties – therefore private organizations – assume the right to enlighten public services. Unbearable, because public services are paid by the community and must operate objectively, which is made impossible by the occupation of the two dominant parties.”

Upcoming Designations Under Scrutiny

Numerous other managerial appointments are expected in the coming weeks for parastatal bodies like the AWEX and AVIQ. Notably, the requirement for a public management certificate has been waived for these roles, a move the current majority claims will reduce political influence.

However, this decision is expected to lead to further scrutiny of future designations. For instance, a recent report indicated that in the European Union, approximately 15% of senior civil service positions were held by individuals with direct political affiliations, a figure that Wallonia appears to be approaching or exceeding in specific sectors (Transparency International, 2023).

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