Based on its budget tables, the new federal government will invest less in the police and justice departments than the previous Vivaldi government, according to Open VLD and the Socialist Party, PS.
This conclusion was drawn by Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) and Khalil Aouasti (PS). However, the Minister for the Modernisation of Government, Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés), disputed their claim.
Khalil Aouasti described the situation as the “structural defunding” by the government of the security departments. He noted that the Vivaldi government allocated over €1.2 billion, while the current ‘Arizona’ government plans to allocate only €450 million by 2029.
Former Justice Minister Van Tigchelt added that Vivaldi invested a total of € 675 million in Justice and €620 million in police and migration, amounting to a total of €1.295 billion.
In comparison, Arizona’s total is €1.275 billion.
Van Tigchelt said that although this was not “structural defunding,” Vivaldi indeed invested more in justice and police. He criticised the €75 million earmarked for security departments in 2025 as being insufficient.
Minister Matz accused the opposition of distorting the truth. She clarified that the amounts were in addition to adjustments for inflation.
Matz also asserted that her government was not cutting federal public services, unlike the Vivaldi administration.
She also explained the distribution of the allocations: 20% for asylum and migration, 35% for police, and 45% for justice.
The debate on the new federal government’s policy statement was expected to continue all night on Wednesday and possibly into the next day.
Parliament could give the government a vote of confidence as early as 4:15 p.m. on Thursday.
