Former Belgian Senator Bribed by Chinese Official, Prime Minister Describes China as “Hostile Country

Former Belgian Senator Bribed by Chinese Official, Prime Minister Describes China as “Hostile Country

(Reuters, Brussels, 20th) The case of a former Belgian senator being bribed by an official from China’s Ministry of State Security has shocked the country’s political arena. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo today described China as a country that is “sometimes very hostile”. Reuters reported that De Croo told two major Belgian newspapers, Le … Read more

While many Belgians can barely pay an energy bill, Electrabel transfers 1.2 billion profit to France

– Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten. – Now that Electrabel is doing well again, partly due to high energy prices, the energy producer is transferring part of the profit – 1.2 billion euros – to parent company Engie in Paris. Remarkable, because the federal government intended to skim off the exceptionally high profits … Read more

Wages are rising four times faster than normal: why is that? And are there any drawbacks?

– – The wages of half a million white-collar workers will rise more than 8 percent. Things are going at least as fast in other sectors. The result of automatic indexing. In this way, the purchasing power of the employees must remain intact, even if the unhinged energy prices make life more and more expensive. … Read more

The gap is only getting bigger: an additional 4.3 billion in the red, yet the government found room to spend a lot of extra money

– © BELGIAN – The gap in the portfolio has widened even further. Since October, the government has been in the red for an additional 4.3 billion, so that the budget deficit has already risen to 20.7 billion euros. And yet the government has found a lot of extra money to spend, up to 2 … Read more

ANALYSIS. “Where is the Flemish government with its real energy policy?”

– Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo explained the new federal energy agreement on Friday evening – Brussels – While N-VA toppers tighten the federal energy agreement, energy experts bounce the ball back. “When will something constructive happen at Flemish level?” denounces Ronnie Belmans. “Where is the Flemish energy renovation … Read more

Why just Open Vld is blocking major intervention on the energy bill

– On Friday, the government failed to effectively decide anything about compensation for the sky-high energy bill. The matter is being pushed forward again, mainly due to the actions of Open Vld. — © BELGIAN – BRUSSELS – All proposals are on the table to bring down the energy bill. And yet the government failed … Read more

From “farmer cheating” to “no real social policy”: government drags itself to agreement on energy bill

– Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten, Prime Minister De Croo. — ©  rr – Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green) only wants to reduce the VAT on electricity. She would leave the gas-fired one untouched for ecological reasons. With this proposal, she hopes to bridge the gap between … Read more

Prime Minister De Croo does not like the index jump requested by Voka: “Stability is needed at the moment”

– Alexander De Croo — © BELGA – Prime Minister Alexander De Croo does not like an index jump, which entrepreneurial organization Voka insisted on Monday at its New Year’s reception. “Right now, stability is needed. In the long run, if there is a majority in favour, the discussion can be started” about a general … Read more

Open VLD wants 1G policy: ‘There is no other way’

Open VLD, the party of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, wants to move towards a 1G policy in Belgium. Only those who have been vaccinated can then participate in public life. “I’m afraid we can’t go any other way,” says Open VLD chairman Egbert Lachaert in The morning. – Within Open VLD there was a … Read more

De Croo: ‘Whose is Engie’s letter a surprise to?’

According to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the letter in which Engie has made it clear that the extension of the nuclear power plants is not an option should not come as a surprise. The Prime Minister stated this in Parliament on Thursday during interpellations by Bert Wollants (N-VA), Reccino Van Lommel (Vlaams Belang) and … Read more