The leader of the radical left Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA), Raoul Hedebouw, described the future so-called Arizona government as a coalition of "wreckers" on Sunday.
Addressing his supporters at a New Year’s event in central Brussels, he vowed that the PTB, alongside the social movement, would push back against the government’s "anti-social projects".
Hedebouw highlighted the party’s strong performance in the June and October elections and called for resistance against the expected "De Wever-Bouchez government".
"All these parties around the table promised during their campaigns that they would improve workers’ wages, but they now plan to freeze salaries, undermine automatic wage indexing, and make us work longer for lower pensions," he declared.
In his view, the MR leader already wins the "2025 grand charlatan award" for going against his promises.
The traditional new year's reception of Belgian Workers Party (PTB-PVDA), in Brussels, Sunday 12 January 2025. Credit: Belga
Hedebouw also criticised the "Arizona taboo" and their opposition to taxing large fortunes. He argued that true courage is making the wealthiest 1% pay their fair share. "For once, it’s not the workers who should pay, but the richest 1%—and only them."
The radical leftist leader argued that making the strongest shoulders bear "a third of a third" of the effort is not enough. A genuine tax on millionaires could generate billions for social security, public services, and healthcare.
Hedebouw noted that unions, the associative sector, the cultural sector, and the youth are already mobilising against the Arizona plans, which is causing hesitation among Flemish socialists and Les Engagés to support these measures.
