Wearing a mask in Wallonia: the mayors regret the absence of a legal text

To the day after the decision of the Walloon government not to relax the wearing of masks in the south of the country – a decision announced by press release Thursday evening – there is still “no legal text” supporting this measure, lamented Friday afternoon Maxime Daye, the mayor MR of Braine-le-Comte and president of the Union of Towns and Municipalities of Wallonia ( UVCW). Thursday evening, the regional executive decided to play it safe and to maintain the obligation to wear a mask as it existed until now, while the consultation committee of September 17 had decided to relax the matter to from October 1.

The decision of the Walloon government finally fell Thursday evening, a few hours before the entry into force of the new rules. But as for the establishment of the curfew, the Region must imperatively go through the governors of provinces or the mayors to enforce it, for lack of the necessary skills. However, Friday afternoon, there is still no official text, assured the president of the Union of Cities. “Twenty-four hours later, we still have no information apart from what we read in the press. But a press release is not a text of law. And besides, this timing is really a total lack of respect vis-à-vis the mayors and the sectors concerned, ”criticized Maxime Daye. ” It is not the first time. Last year, the parliamentary committee on covid had already highlighted this problem of information received too late by local authorities. At the time, we were told it was because of the federal government. Here, the federal government has issued a ministerial decree; Flanders and Brussels reacted immediately while in Wallonia, we only have press articles ”, he continued. “Basically, I have no problem with the decision but I really regret the lack of consideration on the ground. After a year and a half of this management, everyone is worn out, ”concluded the president of the UVCW.