BRUSSELS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Members of Belgian opposition parties walked out of a debate in Parliament on Thursday over the alleged failure of the Belgian prime minister to address comments made a senior minister over collaboration with the Nazis during the Second World War.
The issue dates back to 2001, when current Interior Minister Jan Jambon, from the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, attended a meeting of the veteran's association Saint Martin's Fund.
The minister was forced to admit his attendance at the meeting, when the new Belgian government was sworn-in in October.
The subject of World War II collaboration remains controversial in Belgium. In 2001, former minister Johan Sauwens was forced to resign over his participation in the same meeting attended by Jambon.
Since the revelations about the interior minister came to light, opposition parties have been pressing the government, a center-right coalition of liberals, conservatives and Flemish nationalists, and in particular Prime Minister Charles Michel, to clarify the remarks.
On Thursday, during a debate in Parliament, opposition parties, led by the Socialists and the Greens, staged a symbolic walk-out of the chamber after a heated row with President of the Chamber Siegfried Bracke, also a member of the N-VA.
Speaking to the media after the walk-out, Michel denounced the "bullying strategy" of the opposition. He said that his government would focus on the "management and implementation of the program" the coalition has agreed upon.
The new coalition government was sworn-in in October following months of negotiations between parties. The coalition has seen growing opposition to its economic and social policies, with a series of strikes rocking the country.
A general strike will take place on Dec. 15.
