Dewael had to deal with a sensitive issue: tradition wants it that he is being flanked by the two youngest MP's for the ceremony, but the left-wing (especially Francophone) parties were not amused that Dries Van Langenhove would be among those to have this honour: he was elected for the far-right Vlaams Belang and is facing charges of possible racism.

However, Mr Dewael solved this problem by leading the ceremony from his personal seat in the hemisphere, instead of taking the front stage. In this way, he didn't have to be flanked by anybody. Various Francophone MP's were wearing a red triangle to protest against the presence of Van Langenhove; the red triangle was a protest symbol against fascism in former times.