Valerie Van Peel: “We need to focus on public spending first”

Party president Valerie Van Peel was a guest on Villa Politica to discuss the ongoing federal budget talks. She also delved into the persistent crisis in the prison system.

“Arizona must remain a reform-driven government”

According to Valerie Van Peel, the De Wever government still aims to bring the budget deficit below three percent—but not at any cost. “We have to do this the right way, without wrecking the economy. We’ve already made €23 billion in savings—that’s not nothing. But I sense that all coalition partners understand the urgency and are willing to return to the table in good faith. That, right now, is what matters most. This is a reform government, and the fact that our partners are ready to engage again is a very positive sign.”

She specifically pointed to the large number of people on long-term sick leave—a long-standing concern for N-VA. Belgium has just as many long-term sick individuals as Germany, even though Germany has eight times the population. “The reforms we can implement here won’t just fix today’s budget—they’ll help secure our public finances for decades to come.”

Targeting government spending before new taxes

When asked about potential new taxes, such as Vooruit’s proposed “millionaires’ contribution,” Van Peel remained cautious. “Everyone needs to come to the table with an open mind—especially given the scale of what we’re trying to do. But if you’re dealing with above-average government spending, as we are in Belgium, then that’s where you start. That’s where reforms are most urgent. We need to dig deep into the spending side, identify where we can cut costs, and only then talk about other measures.”

Tackling the prison crisis at its core

Van Peel said she understands the desperation voiced by prison directors, but emphasized the need for long-term structural solutions. “For years, we’ve only responded with short-term fixes—that’s how we ended up in this mess. What we need now is a structural approach.”

Specifically, she referred to the repatriation of 4,000 undocumented inmates and the accelerated construction of new prisons—projects that are often delayed by lengthy permit procedures. “The Flemish Government, under the leadership of Matthias Diependaele, is making a strong push to drastically shorten the permitting process,” said Van Peel. “That’s how you bring about real, lasting change—instead of just putting band-aids on a broken system. That’s exactly what this government stands for, including in the area of justice.”