Valerie Van Peel: “Billions leaking from the social security system”

In an in-depth interview with VTM Nieuws, N-VA chair Valerie Van Peel voiced serious concerns about Belgium’s public finances. According to her, the country faces a massive challenge in getting its budget back on track, and the focus should primarily be on public spending if Belgium wants to withstand future crises.

Targeted energy support, but with reservations

The interview opened with the recently approved energy support for businesses. While the measure has now been adopted, Valerie Van Peel stressed that the N-VA would have preferred to wait longer. “This isn’t really the right moment for measures like these,” she said. “The government can no longer pour vast amounts of money into fixing mistakes from the past.”

She emphasized that the current measures are highly targeted, particularly at people who have no alternative for commuting. She also warned that many proposals from other parties will ultimately come at the taxpayer’s expense: “What many of my fellow party leaders fail to mention is that a lot of these measures will have to be paid back by citizens—with interest. That’s how dire our budget situation really is.”

The worst budget in Europe

According to Van Peel, Belgium is dealing with the weakest budgetary position in Europe. She pointed to the legacy of previous governments: “We inherited the largest deficit in all of Europe—that’s where the problem starts.”

Despite €32 billion in savings already implemented, interest payments on the country’s massive debt continue to rise. She was unequivocal: “The challenge is enormous. The real issue is making sure we become a country that is prepared for the next crisis—because right now, we’re not.”

Focus on Social security Social security is currently managed at the Federal level in Belgium. The most important pillars of Belgian social security are: sickness and invalidity insurance (NIDHI), pensions, unemployment insurance and child allowances. In addition, occupational illness, occupational accidents and annual holidays are dealt with at this level. Some Flemish parties have been campaigning for years for (large parts of) social security to be transferred to the Regions and Communities. social security : “billions slipping through the cracks”

To tackle the deficit, the N-VA is targeting public spending, particularly within the social security system. Valerie Van Peel claims that billions of euros are being paid out to people who are not actually entitled to them, especially through the “increased reimbursement” scheme.

“We have both the largest deficit and the highest level of public spending. That means we need to scrutinize expenditures, such as increased reimbursements. They should be reserved for people who are genuinely living in poverty—not the 2.4 million people currently receiving them,” she stated.

The role of health insurance funds under scrutiny

Van Peel also criticized the role of the mutual health insurance funds. “We need to move away from a system where health insurers automatically grant increased reimbursements to their members,” she said. “If you believe you are entitled to government support, you should be able to demonstrate that you truly need it.”

She also pointed to shortcomings in the monitoring of long-term sick leave. According to her, several reports show that many people remain in that status unjustifiably due to insufficient oversight by the insurers themselves. “In my view, it would be immoral to allow a multi-billion-euro leak to persist,” she responded to criticism from the sector.

No wealth register, but open to debate

Responding to proposals by Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) to introduce a wealth register, Van Peel remained firm: “We are not going to mobilize an army of civil servants to map out every Belgian’s assets, as some suggest. There is no need for a wealth register. In practice, it’s unworkable and would end up targeting the wrong people.”

On the idea of a potential “millionaires’ tax,” she struck a more cautious tone. She said she is open to proposals that do not affect the middle class or trigger capital flight, but she rejects the current definitions put forward by the left: “A millionaires’ tax sounds appealing, but it doesn’t exist—and it never will—because it would amount to sawing off the branch we’re all sitting on.”