Flemish Parliament equalises pensions

In the Flemish Parliament, a new regulation concerning parliamentary pensions has been agreed. Just like in the other systems, MPs will from now on have to work for 45 years for a full pension and reach the age of 65 before they may draw their pension.

“This is a reworking of the pension regulation for MPs that makes sense,” says President of the Flemish Parliament Jan Peumans. “I am happy that the Flemish Parliament is the first to have reached a consensus in this regard.”

Until 2014, MPs could already draw a full pension after 20 years of service. That is now being increased to 45 years. As from 2019, a parliamentary pension can only be drawn from the age of 65. That will rise even higher to 66 in 2025 and 67 in 2030. There is still a transitional regulation for people less than 5 years away from retirement.

Mathias Diependaele, party leader in the Flemish Parliament, is also very pleased with the new regulation: “We have asked the people to make efforts, so it’s only logical that we do the same too. Currently there isn’t a single reason at all for the other parliaments to continue opposing the measure.”

It is mainly the French-speaking parties that have been blocking the idea up to now.

Federal party leader Peter De Roover also reacted enthusiastically: “It is fantastic news that the Flemish Parliament has decided on a regulation that can now serve as a lever to get the other parliaments moving. If the French-language parties do not follow suit, we will still submit that Flemish agreement in the Chamber.”