{
    "title": "Moody\u2019s downgrades Belgium\u2019s credit rating for first time in 15 years",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-17 21:29:52",
    "published_at": "2026-04-17 21:29:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/moodys-downgrades-belgiums-credit-rating-for-first-time-in-15-years-9l3tkm",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/XDCd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "moodys-downgrades-belgiums-credit-rating-for-first-time-in-15-years-9l3tkm",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Moody&rsquo;s has lowered Belgium&rsquo;s credit rating from Aa3 to A1, marking the first downgrade in 15 years.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">A1 is still a strong rating, but it means the agency now sees Belgium&rsquo;s risk of default as &ldquo;low&rdquo; rather than &ldquo;very low&rdquo;. It also places Belgium in the upper part of that category.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The rating had been unchanged since 2011. Moody&rsquo;s had previously warned about Belgium&rsquo;s rising public debt and increasing costs linked to an ageing population. Since October 2024, the outlook had already been &ldquo;negative&rdquo;.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Credit ratings are important because they influence how much governments pay to borrow money on international markets. Other agencies have also recently reviewed Belgium&rsquo;s position: Fitch Ratings downgraded Belgium in June 2025, while S&amp;P Global Ratings still rates the country higher, but with a negative outlook.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">S&amp;P is expected to publish a new review of Belgium&rsquo;s rating next week.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sub>Belgian PM Bart De Wever | &copy; BELGA PHOTO EMILE WINDAL</sub></p>",
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
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