Flemish right-wing nationalists N-VA have tabled a bill to privatise 50% of the railway operator SNCB/NMBS in reaction to unrelenting strikes across the country, Knack reported on Tuesday.
SNCB is 99% state-owned and N-VA regularly advocates for its privatisation. The right-wing party argues that the government will still maintain control if it owns just half of shares.
It views privatisation as a way to transform the operator from a "traditional loss-making monopolist" into a "profitable public company in a competitive environment".
It does not apply the same logic to Infrabel, a separate railway operator responsible for tracks and signal posts (while SNCB operates the trains themselves). Infrabel will not undergo any change as it is "critical infrastructure".
Patience wearing thin
Strikes are targeting the austerity measures imposed by Prime Minister Bart De Wever's 'Arizona' government, which include reforms to retirement and pensions. Cuts of at least €23 billion will go towards resolving Belgium's budget deficit.
"This is about the proper functioning of the NMBS," said N-VA MP Dorien Cuylaert, seeking to reassure opponents that the money generated from the sale would not be used for the deficit or the country's defence budget.
The only Arizona coalition member against the measure is the leftwing party Vooruit. "Hopefully the minds of our partners will mature," says Cuylaert.
Patience with trade unions is waning within government. Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has repeatedly called for dialogue.
After the national strike last Monday, union representatives met with Finance and Pensions Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA). They reported a "good conversation" but added that "other actions will undoubtedly follow."
