Flemish socialists Vooruit are demanding that the pensions of parliamentarians undergo the same reforms as those of workers, warning that they will block the reforms if not.
The Arizona government, of which Vooruit is a part, aims to thoroughly reform pensions in the coming years by limiting the indexation of the highest pensions and calculating civil servants' pensions based on their entire career rather than the last ten years.
These reforms should also apply to parliamentarians, according to MP Anja Vanrobaeys. She insists that age advantages must be reconsidered, noting those in parliament before 2014 can claim pension rights from age 60, and from age 62 for those between 2014 and 2019.
Furthermore, Vanrobaeys argues that the period during which parliamentarians receive an exit allowance should no longer be counted as equivalent for pension purposes.
Vooruit will present the proposal to the Bureau of the Chamber on Wednesday, which sets the regulations for MPs.
Vanrobaeys cautions that if parliamentary pensions remain unreformed, Vooruit will withdraw support for worker pension reforms. "It’s only fair: everyone, including politicians, must contribute to safeguard our purchasing power and keep healthcare affordable for all," she states.
Opposition party PVDA has long demanded comprehensive pension reform for professional politicians. Pensions Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) previously announced that the temporary non-indexation of the highest pensions would apply to ministers and MPs, though whether other privileges will be eliminated remains uncertain.
