De Croo expressed concern that military personnel should not be exempt from service without justification while still receiving their pay.

He also noted that the instruction regarding this exemption was not discussed within the government and would be addressed at the next Council of Ministers meeting.

De Croo made these remarks while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In response to the exemption, the Defense Commission has decided to seek a legal opinion regarding its validity.

Ludivine Dedonder, the Minister of Defense from the PS party, has granted military personnel a service exemption to participate in a public services demonstration scheduled for February 13, 2025.

Dedonder justified this exemption by citing the need to restore 'social dialogue' within the military.

However, this decision has sparked controversy within the outgoing government, with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticizing it as not a routine matter.

Nabil Boukili from PTB clarified that the request for exemption came from the SLFP union and asserted that military personnel are capable of defending their rights without the minister's intervention.

Theo Francken from N-VA raised concerns during the Defense Commission debate, emphasizing that military personnel do not have the right to strike, a rule in place for 180 years, and criticized Dedonder's decision as 'not the brightest initiative'.

Before De Croo, MP Denis Ducarme condemned the defense minister's decision, labeling it a 'manifest abuse of power'.

It is unusual for military personnel, who are generally not allowed to protest, to participate in demonstrations; they would typically need to request leave.

Overall, the decision has led to significant debate about the rights of military personnel and the implications of their participation in public demonstrations.