Belgian parliamentary pension bonuses are illegal, experts confirm

The pension bonuses received by two former presidents of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives are illegal, according to two expert opinions commissioned by the Chamber's Bureau. The discovery of pension bonuses has been causing a stir in the Chamber for several weeks. 

A few weeks ago it emerged that two former Chamber presidents and eight senior officials had been receiving pension bonuses for years. The bonus system allowed them to receive more than the legal cap on state pensions set by a 1978 law.

Most notably, high-profile politicians Siegfried Bracke (N-VA) and Herman De Croo (Open VLD), father of the current Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, received the controversial pension bonuses.

On Wednesday, two legal opinions requested by the Chamber's Bureau confirmed that the pension bonuses were in fact illegal. The Chamber's Bureau will also assess whether the money can be recovered later on Wednesday.

 

Herman De Croo, father of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, is one of the former presidents of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives who received the controversial pension bonuses © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About belganewsagency.eu

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle.

Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language.

For public institutions, businesses and various organisations that need reliable information, Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs.

Contact

Arduinkaai 29 1000 Brussels

www.belganewsagency.eu