Official documents show that the Walloon administration initially approved the demolition, with the City of La Louvière later changing its stance to support the project under certain conditions, suggesting official backing.

The NGO has modified its public statements, removing direct references to Desquesnes and the former director, but continues to call for a criminal investigation and the involvement of EU bodies like OLAF and the Court of Auditors to suspend the €3.2 million in European funds.

Walloon Minister François Desquesnes is accused by the NGO Communauté Historia of embezzling €3.2 million in European funds allocated for a project at the demolished Saint-Joseph chapel in La Louvière.

The NGO filed a criminal complaint in July 2025, alleging misuse of European funds related to the construction of a refectory and study hall, claiming the demolition was unjustified and environmentally damaging.

The NGO criticizes the minister for issuing a demolition permit despite unfavorable opinions from multiple administrative bodies and relying on an outdated, potentially conflicted technical report.

The complaint alleges that the project failed to meet strict European ecological and sustainability criteria, such as demonstrating the impossibility of renovation and conducting lifecycle analyses, which were not provided.

The NGO argues that the demolition was unnecessary because the chapel could have been renovated and that the project did not comply with European funding requirements, citing expert opinions and unfavorable assessments.

The NGO claims that the funds were diverted from heritage preservation to build the refectory, contradicting EU regulations, and suggests potential political motivations involving former school director Aurore Tourneur.

Desquesnes defends his financial decisions, emphasizing responsible fiscal management and criticizing the accusations as politically motivated attacks.

The NGO calls for a thorough criminal investigation, urging EU authorities, OLAF, and the Court of Auditors to review the case and suspend the €3.2 million in EU funds until the matter is clarified.

Experts confirmed that the demolished chapel was not at risk and could have been restored at a lower environmental cost, raising questions about the necessity of the demolition.

While Desquesnes denies personally diverting funds, the NGO claims he authorized the demolition of a heritage site, favoring destruction over rehabilitation, which was unnecessary and environmentally harmful.

The controversy centers on the demolition of the Saint-Joseph chapel, which was replaced by a refectory, with allegations that the demolition was unjustified and violated European heritage protection guidelines.