Valerie Van Peel: “Time to step up and take responsibility”

Speaking on De Afspraak op vrijdag, party chair Valerie Van Peel addressed several pressing issues, including the Euroclear case, the stalled government formation in Brussels, and, of course, the federal multi-year budget.

On Euroclear: “All member states must share the risk”

The European Commission is trying to persuade Belgium to reconsider its stance on Euroclear. “I hope we don’t change our position. In fact, I don’t think we really have a choice,” said Valerie Van Peel in response to the EU’s push to tap into frozen Russian assets. “Tampering with a case like this without solid legal grounding undermines trust in the entire financial system.”

“At the very least, all member states should share the risk. Unless that’s clearly stated in black and white, we won’t move an inch,” she added.

On Brussels: “Time to restore order”

She didn’t hold back when discussing the Brussels stalemate. “What’s happening there is the height of political irresponsibility,” she said, referring to more than 500 days of paralysis.

According to Van Peel, a single prominent PS figure is blocking even the possibility of talks involving a Flemish majority. Nevertheless, the N-VA won’t shy away from the task: “If we’re given the opportunity to help restore order, we will absolutely step up. That’s what we do—everywhere.”

On federal politics: “Everyone needs to get over their ego”

At the federal level, the Prime Minister has asked for 50 more days to finalise the multi-year budget. Van Peel pointed out that it’s ordinary citizens who suffer most from the political impasse. “We’ve reached a historic agreement within the government, with reforms that were considered impossible for decades (…) It would be a historic mistake to let that fall apart now.”

She summed up the urgency with a stark warning: “Our interest payments are now at 11 billion euros. That’s the equivalent of the police and justice budgets—times two. And if we do nothing, we’ll hit 20 billion in no time. That’s what’s at stake.”

“This is about everyone getting over their own shadow, because the challenges we’re facing are enormous. And if we don’t act, those challenges will only get worse—and we’ll be forced to take measures that will really hurt people,” Van Peel warned.

She stressed that the government has so far tackled these issues in a way that keeps the impact on citizens as limited as possible, while putting long-term structural solutions in place.

“A balanced, reasonable and necessary reform”

“What’s on the table is very well balanced. It includes a major reform, a huge cut in spending and, yes, some new revenue. But that revenue comes from consumption, exactly as all economists recommend. And there’s also a tax cut for working people. That’s not unreasonable.”

Her conclusion was clear: “There is no alternative. So let’s take responsibility and carry out the mandate the voters gave us.”