A three-page appeal for clemency by Prince Laurent, younger brother to King Philippe, was read out by the Speaker of the House on Thursday, before a vote on the sanction. “I’m not free from mistakes, and I’m the first aware that people far more poor than me suffer a worse fate. “Do I need to remind you that neither I nor my family is covered by social protection (healthcare, disability, pension)?” Laurent told MPs. Belgian MPs were unmoved by the appeal, and voted in the early hours of Friday morning by 93 to 23 votes in favour of withdrawing €46,000 (£40,340) of the prince’s allocation. Patrick Dewael, an MP for the Flemish Liberals and Democrats party, said: “It is a deduction from a donation, not a penalty.

Source: The Guardian March 30, 2018 10:07 UTC