Elio Di Rupo, leader of the French speaking socialist party, reiterated his party’s plan to legalise cannabis in Belgium in order to prevent young people being forced to aquire it in a criminal milieu controled by ‘mafia-like’ elements. "We are going to resubmit a legislation to legalize cannabis and we will do everything to get the government to agree,” Di Rupo said in an interview to La Libre. Meanwhile however the Christian democrats have rallied against the plans. (See also: Belgium legislates in favour of medicinal cannabis | Legalising cannabis could generate up to 144 million euros for Belgium)