“The only liberal emphasis in the Brussels budget: the people of Brussels pay far too much”

“We are celebrating a silver anniversary in Brussels: a liberal has been responsible for the Brussels budget for 25 years. The track record is downright pathetic,” Brussels N-VA group chair Cieltje Van Achter complains.

Cieltje is referring in particular to the current Budget Minister, Sven Gatz. “Actually, most of the debt mountain grew due to his policies. In five years’ time, he allowed the debt to increase by EUR 8.3 billion. And worst of all, he doesn’t care about any of it. Year after year, he let the debt get out of control. Nothing at all will come of his promised balanced budget in 2024.”

Shot down in flames

Van Achter also complains that parliament is being sidelined. “The accounts are submitted to parliament late every year. Only the Court of Audit receives these on time, and they are then downright scathing about it every time. The Court of Audit also shot Gatz’s proposed 2024 budget down in flames. The Court of Audit speaks of ‘fictitious revenue’ and ‘lack of transparency’ and also points out that Gatz is decreasing parliamentary control. Those are not light accusations.”

Unprecedented disdain

There will also be no budget adjustment this year, a first since 1995. “Every year, parliament votes on an adjustment to the budget for the current year. But Gatz refuses this for 2023, which means there is no insight into the current 2023 budget. However, major shifts can be observed for that budget: revenues are lower than estimated and expenditures and investments are scrapped. But Gatz is keeping this hidden from parliament. Such disdain for one of the basic functions of a parliament, which is to approve the budget, is unprecedented.”