Belgium’s prime minister calls for changes to the country’s constitution to combat extremists, and promises hundreds of millions of euros to boost the security forces.
Addressing the federal parliament as security forces were conducting raids around the capital Brussels, Charles Michel pledges to use changes to the constitution to extend preventive detention times for suspects from 24 hours to 72 hours.
He also affirms that Belgium would move forward alone on a system of airline passenger information sharing that European Union nations have been incapable of agreeing in four years.
“The risk before us is the collapse of the entire European project if we don’t take our responsibilities,” he tells the lawmakers.
“All democratic forces have to work together to strengthen our security,” he says .
Military police soldiers patrol the Brussels Airport on November 18, 2015 in Zaventem, eastern Brussels following a series of coordinated attacks by Islamic State jihadists in Paris on November 13 that killed at least 129 people. (AFP PHOTO / BELGA / DIRK WAEM / AFP / BELGA / DIRK WAEM)
Michel says 400 million euros ($427 million) would be earmarked to boost the security forces, and said special attention would be paid to eradicating messages of hate inspiring young people to fight in places like Syria and Iraq, or back at home later in Europe.
“For jihadis who return, their place is in prison,” says Michel.
— AP
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