Party leaders clash over ‘unjust’ federal budget deal
Belgium’s long-awaited federal budget agreement has triggered sharp political reactions across the spectrum. Left-wing parties are denouncing the package as socially unfair while governing parties are defending it as a necessary step to stabilise public finances.
PVDA chair Raoul Hedebouw delivered one of the strongest condemnations and called the deal “unjust and unacceptable”. He attacked the new “centenindex”, which caps full wage indexation at salaries up to 4,000 euros gross and benefits up to 2,000 euros. “That is below the average wage and pension,” he said. He accused the government of penalising workers while raising taxes on essentials such as gas, heating oil and fuel. Hedebouw urged resistance and insisted that “alternatives exist”.
Groen also argued that ordinary households will shoulder the heaviest burden. Parliamentary leader Stefaan Van Hecke accused the governing parties of launching the first step in dismantling Belgium’s indexation system. He criticised higher VAT on various products and rising healthcare costs and said the government refused to consider a genuine wealth tax. Party chair Bart D’hondt said the deal makes life “harder and more expensive” while sparing the richest.
On the right, Vlaams Belang branded the package “an attack on the average Fleming”. Chair Tom Van Grieken warned that higher gas costs would hit households already squeezed by previous energy hikes. MP Barbara Pas called the capped indexation for higher wages “a covert assault” on automatic wage protection. The party also denounced the new 2 euro parcel tax on non-EU deliveries.
From the governing parties, reactions were markedly different. N-VA chair Valerie Van Peel praised the fact that “ambition was not lowered”, and prime minister Bart De Wever said the agreement improves Belgium’s debt trajectory by 32 billion euros this legislature. Les Engagés leader Yvan Verougstraete said the deal is “fair” and cites contributions from high-income earners and companies, a shift in taxation from electricity to fossil fuels, and reinforced efforts against tax fraud.
CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi insisted that the burden is “fairly shared” and highlighted the doubling of the securities tax, new measures against abuse in company structures, and a guarantee that sick-leave days will continue to count towards pension rights. He acknowledged “tough elements” in the agreement but said the party had protected key priorities.
“The agreement improves Belgium’s debt trajectory by 32 billion euros this legislature”
Vooruit chair Conner Rousseau said his party had “saved many social measures”, despite confirming that gas will gradually become more expensive due to higher excise duties. He stressed that electricity will become cheaper and that billions will be invested in healthcare and staff. The index, he said, remains largely intact.
MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez declared his party “was heard”. He emphasised that there is no overall VAT rise, that the “shopping basket” remains protected and that wage indexation stays in place with social corrections. He also highlighted commitments to return 100,000 long-term sick people to work and to lower electricity prices to support the energy transition.
Prime minister De Wever will present the agreement in the Chamber on Wednesday, followed by a debate on Thursday and a vote on Friday.
Prime minister Bart De Wever talks to the press after reaching a budget deal © BELGA PHOTO EMILE WINDAL