16/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Commissioner-designate for Justice of the ‘von der Leyen’ team, Didier Reynders, refuted, on Saturday 14 September, the allegations of corruption and money laundering published by the Belgian newspapers, L'Écho and De Tijd, over the weekend. The allegations in question are made by a former State Security official, who accuses Mr Reynders of being involved in a series of public contracts and State purchases, including the construction of the Belgian Embassy in Kinshasa, for which bribes were allegedly paid. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Brussels has confirmed to the Belgian newspapers that a preliminary investigation is under way and will decide, at the end of this preliminary investigation, whether the information is sufficient to be forwarded to the Federal Prosecutor's Office. These allegations could complicate Mr Reynder’s hearing by the European Parliament, which must approve his appointment. (MF)