Flemish debt could rise to 45 billion next year | Economy

The government previously speculated to reach a debt of 45 billion euros only at the end of the legislature, in 2024. It could be a year earlier. Flemish debt will amount to 74.23% of revenue next year.

According to the budget that was written off last month, the deficits will be recorded until 2026. In that year there would still be a deficit of 200 million euros. In 2027 alone, there would be a surplus of 250-300 million.

Flemish MP Maurits Vande Reyde (Open VLD) on Tuesday called the debt figures worrying. “After two serious crises, rising debt is also a serious problem in Flanders,” he said. Vande Reyde believes that the seriousness of the debt problem is not yet sufficiently manifest. “There is a path towards balance, but it will not be enough to make the budget structurally sound. Flanders continues to spend too generously.”

The Diependaele piece of furniture, however, makes some nuances. “We have taken crisis measures for 1 billion euros, so that we would expect an increase in debt,” he feels. “But the figure of 45 billion euros is a projection that risks being lower”.