Bart De Wever: “Our reforms have long been the norm elsewhere”

To mark his first 100 days as Prime Minister, Bart De Wever appeared on VTM Nieuws. The conversation covered budget cuts, national debt, and defence spending. “What’s in the coalition agreement won’t be enough to fix the budget,” he warned.

Everyone has to do their part – including politicians

The Prime Minister emphasized that structural reforms are essential: “We’re simply doing what’s considered normal in most European countries—working at least 35 years to earn a full pension. That’s not unreasonable. Belgium is, in fact, the only country where unemployment can practically become a lifestyle choice. That’s why we have so many long-term unemployed people who we can’t reactivate.”

“But for those working in the private sector who finish their careers—like the vast majority of Flemings—there are really no measures that affect them,” De Wever assured.

According to him, politicians are also pulling their weight: “My salary has been cut by 8%. We have a historically small number of ministers. And we’ve reduced cabinet spending by 30%. On top of that, I’ll soon go to Parliament with a proposal to abolish the Senate.” De Wever acknowledges the public’s frustration with the perks of MPs: “But that’s not in my hands as head of the executive. That’s Parliament’s responsibility. Still, I expect results there too—this year. That’s non-negotiable.”

“The hard part is still ahead”

“We inherited a Titanic that was already sunk,” said De Wever bluntly. “You can’t fix that in just a few months. Belgium has ignored the reforms Europe has been calling for over the past 20 years. The Swedish coalition made a decent effort, but it wasn’t enough. The Vivaldi government was a disaster.”

According to the Prime Minister, the result is a downward spiral that won’t be reversed overnight. “Balancing the budget will take ten years. Trying to go faster would lead to social breakdown or economic damage. The coalition agreement won’t cut it,” he said. “We’re in for some tough years.”

Are we heading towards war?

“Absolutely not,” said De Wever firmly. “As long as we make the right decisions now.” In his view, we’ve been living in a comfort zone since the late 1990s, where war felt like a thing of the past. That’s no longer the case. “For years we’ve underinvested in defence and security—across Europe, but especially here in Belgium. Now we’re waking up to a world where tyrants, despots, and imperialists are once again willing to use their armies. What once felt like a distant threat is suddenly all too real,” he concluded.