BRUSSELS

Belgium's Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden on Tuesday criticized a decision to deploy troops to guard Jewish institutions, saying the move was taken without proper consultation within the government.

Verlinden told the VRT broadcaster that she was "surprised" by the decision, which was announced Monday by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Defense Minister Theo Francken.

The ministers unveiled the plan to deploy more than 50 soldiers to guard 24 Jewish sites, including 20 synagogues and four schools in Antwerp.

She stressed that "no one can act unilaterally" in a coalition government and called for greater cooperation and mutual respect among ministers.

Authorities said the deployment is based on an existing legal provision that allows military support when police capacity is insufficient. But Verlinden questioned whether a shortage had been demonstrated, and noted that she had already planned to reinforce police presence at the sites.

She also raised concerns about the lack of a clear legal framework defining the role and powers of soldiers in domestic security operations.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever acknowledged Verlinden's frustration, saying he understood it could be "unpleasant" to learn about such a decision indirectly.

He defended the measure as being in line with both existing law and the coalition agreement, however, adding that the request for additional support came from federal police leadership.

The dispute underscores broader tensions within the governing coalition, particularly about security policy and prison conditions.

Verlinden has linked the use of military personnel in domestic security operations to urgent action on prison overcrowding, which remains a critical issue.

Belgian prisons are facing severe strain, with more than 640 inmates reportedly forced to sleep on floors due to a lack of capacity.

Verlinden reiterated that addressing overcrowding and improving prison conditions must remain a priority, warning that the situation poses risks to inmates and staff, and could expose the country to significant legal and financial consequences.

The matter is expected to be discussed further within the government in the coming days.