After 28 hours of debate over his government declaration, Prime Minister Bart De Wever addressed parliament on Thursday afternoon.
Several chapters of the Arizona government agreement led to lengthy and sometimes heated exchanges between the government coalition and the opposition, particularly on pension, employment, taxation, and asylum reforms.
These reforms are essential, De Wever reiterated, declaring, "We are the political generation that can still make these decisions before our Rhineland model collapses."
He refuted allegations that his government treats asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups inhumanely. He emphasised that Arizona will always tell the truth and make tough decisions when necessary.
"Sine labore nihil. Without labour, nothing can be achieved. This summarises our debate and could also be the title of our government agreement."
Federal Parliament in Brussels, Thursday 06 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Although parliament had debated nearly every detail of the government agreement in the past hours, De Wever focused on the essential points. The budget was one of those key areas.
"We inherited a budget that, if left unchanged, would lead to the worst-case scenario in the Western world. Those who contributed to this situation should exercise humility," he told the Chamber.
'Activate people'
De Wever stated that the government aims to "stop the rot" with the "most significant budgetary efforts in recent history" while lowering taxes by a total of €1.5 billion, particularly for low-wage earners. He acknowledged the need for new policies. "It’s never enough, which is understandable. But given the context, it’s quite an achievement."
He countered the opposition’s criticism of overly optimistic return estimates by highlighting that Arizona had run over 100 simulations through various administrations.
"I understand the scepticism, especially given past experiences. But the difference is this agreement contains 200 pages of measures to activate people and keep them working longer, significantly increasing employment rates."
Minister of Economy and Work David Clarinval and Prime Minister Bart De Wever pictured during a plenary session of the chamber of the Federal Parliament in Brussels, Thursday 06 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Pensions are “perhaps the most sensitive chapter” in the government agreement, according to De Wever.
Reforms are necessary to ensure future generations receive a dignified pension. Illness and care periods remain protected. He also condemned the scaremongering about these issues by claiming pensions at 55 or 56 are outdated.
"It’s pleasant but not fair to other workers and the self-employed, and we simply can’t afford it anymore. Those who started working at 18 will now be able to retire at 60, a historic reform," he added.
On migration, the Prime Minister insisted his coalition operates within the rule of law. "We are accused of being inhumane, yet during the last term, thousands were left to sleep on the streets, and the government was repeatedly fined." He also addressed the far-right Vlaams Belang party, which criticised the migration reforms as insufficient.
An opt-out from European treaties, like the one the Netherlands seeks, is not an option. "That’s symbolic; they won’t get it," he said. However, Arizona will tighten return policies, provide more detention centres, and allow home entries within a strict framework. "Those who cheered for the new Dutch government’s policies should also support ours if they are consistent, but they rarely are," De Wever asserted.
Opposition fire
The opposition did not hold back on the government's plans. While De Wever did not mention the institutional chapter of the agreement, the PS leader Paul Magnette did. "I know you: you are a nationalist, and you are progressing. One day, you realised that to achieve confederalism, you had to become Prime Minister," he declared.
PS' Paul Magnette pictured during a plenary session of the chamber of the Federal Parliament in Brussels, Thursday 06 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
A few minutes earlier, François De Smet (DéFI) expressed similar doubts about the sincerity of the N-VA president’s reform intentions. "You will renovate this building, but you do not intend to live in it; one day, you will sell it," he asserted.
Ecolo criticised the absence of any reference to climate in the Prime Minister’s response. PTB warned that it would continue to oppose the government agreement in Parliament and on the streets alongside trade unions.
Within the coalition, Les Engagés stressed their sense of urgency regarding the current situation. "Inaction is no longer an option," stated Aurore Tourneur. MR expressed confidence that the announced reforms would achieve the desired outcomes. "I believe that in five years, people will say: they thought it was impossible, so they did it," said Benoît Piedboeuf.
