With less than two weeks left to meet formator Bart De Wever's (N-VA) 31 January deadline to form Belgium's next Federal Government, negotiations were paused on Sunday to make room for several of the parties' traditional New Year's receptions.
Before taking the stage to deliver his speech at the N-VA Antwerp chapter's New Year's reception, De Wever said that "it is time to fold out the landing gear, there are still 14 days left" before he is due to meet the King again. During his speech, however, De Wever was very sparing with words about the negotiations.
"I am not going to tell you what I am doing these days in Brussels. After all, the state in which this country has been put does not immediately put you in a festive mood," he said. "But socioeconomically, it is going to be difficult."
From 16:00 on Sunday, the negotiators of N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V met again to discuss the latest rewrite of his supernote. This document contains proposals for the reform of the labour market, pensions and taxation.
'Tous dans le même bateau'
At CD&V's reception in Bruges, party leader Sammy Mahdi announced that N-VA and Francophone liberal MR "must accept that there is no margin to maintain all kinds of tax benefits for the happy few," while the Flemish socialist Vooruit needs to "tighten the screws on the unemployed and those on social assistance."
With these words, he once again made it clear that everyone will have to contribute to the restructuring of the Belgian budget – stressing the importance of a thorough tax reform. The previous Federal Government never implemented the fiscal plans of outgoing Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V) due to a veto by MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez.
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The traditional new year's reception of Flemish Christian Democrats CD&V, in Brugge, Sunday 19 January 2025. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
"The high tax on people's wages will not lower by looking away from it. Without a real tax reform, dear friends of the 'Arizona' parties, we will not get rid of the Belgian disease," said Mahdi. "With CD&V we will ensure that those who do their very best in this country are supported and rewarded. In their salary, in their pension, and with good care through additional investments in healthcare."
When the budget is being restructured – there is talk of a savings operation of €23 billion – the burden must be distributed fairly, according to Mahdi. "Everyone realises that we will have to make savings, but no one should be presented with the full bill for the buffet. On est tous dans le même bateau ("We are all in the same boat"). Those who do not use their paddles only make the crossing more difficult for the others."
'The year of freedom'
Meanwhile, the New Year's reception of Flemish far-right Vlaams Belang – which is not part of the government negotiations – also took place on Sunday. During his speech, party leader Tom Van Grieken stressed that "worldwide, nationalism has the wind in its sails."
The reception took place in Ranst – one of the municipalities in which Vlaams Belang has been in local government following the municipal elections in October. "2025 will also be the year of freedom," said Van Grieken. "We will help govern in Ninove, Ranst, Brecht and Izegem, and that is just the beginning."
Ranst councillor Christel Engelen, responsible for Finance and Spatial Planning, was allowed to kick things off and called the cordon sanitaire to keep the far-right out of government in Belgium 'hopelessly outdated."
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Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Grieken (middle) atnew year's reception of Vlaams Belang, in Ranst, Sunday 19 January 2025. Credit: Belga/Jonas Roosens
Van Grieken began his speech with a reference to the unrest on New Year's Eve – caused by the "immigrant scum" and the "lax attitude of left-wing judges," he said. Van Grieken then referred to the formation of the Federal Government and accused N-VA of deceiving its voters by joining forces with the socialists.
"Bart De Wever is putting pressure on N-VA representatives not to govern with us," said Van Grieken. "But if Arizona does come, the Flemish will pay a high price. How dare they make people work longer and levy more taxes without the Walloons having to tighten their belts? De Wever and [Vooruit leader] Rousseau will be presented with the bill by the voters."
Finally, he gave a pat on the back to US billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, because they seem to be increasingly open to right-wing opinions on their online platforms. Musk's visit to the German far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) was also met with sympathy from Van Grieken.
Immediately after his speech, he left for the United States, where he will attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday in Washington DC. "It is an honour to participate in an event that once again puts the message of 'our people first' on the map, together with world leaders who share our values."