Belgian politicians spar over proposed 'rijkswacht 2.0' police force

A proposal by N-VA's Theo Francken to create a 'rijkswacht 2.0' (a new national guard-style force) has drawn mixed reactions: Brussels mayor Philippe Close dismisses it as 'nonsense', a criminologist argues it won't address root causes, and the military union supports it but demands a clear mandate. The debate reflects ongoing political tensions over public security policy in Belgium.