Brussels – The Minister of Media for the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Jacqueline Galant (MR), faces a motion of no confidence following accusations of political interference in the public broadcaster, RTBF. The motion, filed Wednesday evening by opposition parties PS, PTB, Ecolo, and Lib.res, comes after Galant declined to fully answer parliamentary questions regarding her vision for the RTBF’s future editorial direction.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Galant on January 13th, during a speech to MR party members in Walhain. According to reports, Galant expressed a desire for the next appointments of the RTBF’s Director-General and Head of News to shift the public broadcaster’s editorial line “to the other side of the political spectrum.” She also reportedly lamented the presence of “left-leaning” journalists within the younger generation at RTBF.
These statements sparked immediate condemnation from the RTBF, its journalists, and professional associations, who characterized them as an attempt to undermine the independence of the public media. The European Federation of Journalists has since filed a complaint with the Council of Europe, citing concerns over freedom of the press.
During a parliamentary commission meeting on Tuesday, Galant read a prepared statement, avoiding direct responses to questions from opposition members regarding her comments and the upcoming appointments at RTBF. Bénédicte Linard, an Ecolo MP and former Minister of Media, accused Galant of a “series of shocking statements” that represented “political interference” and a breach of her duty to guarantee press freedom. Linard argued that Galant’s actions were not an isolated incident.
The opposition’s initial attempt to strip Galant of her media portfolio was rejected by the MR-Engagés coalition. But, the subsequent motion of no confidence, a first in the history of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels parliament according to the PS, will now be considered by the conference of presidents. A vote on the motion is expected in the coming days.
Galant has defended her remarks, stating that a democracy requires a strong public media outlet. However, the opposition remains steadfast in its demand for her resignation, arguing that her actions have eroded trust and compromised her ability to serve as Minister of Media.