Belgium is, in my view, a perfect example of what is going wrong in Europe: too much administration, too many layers of government, heavy taxation, weak strategic direction and endless political compromise. Bart De Wever was supposed to challenge that system, but increasingly seems trapped inside it.
He was elected promising to reduce the tax burden on the middle class, yet I do not see that promise being delivered. Instead of fundamentally reforming the state, his government appears focused on managing budgets, finding additional revenue and negotiating around structural problems. De Wever increasingly looks like the kind of system politician he once positioned himself against, with the middle class again being asked to carry much of the burden.
He’s my favorite politician and I still enjoy his speeches, which are often intelligent and fascinating. But I have lost confidence in his ability to translate those words into his political program. When it comes to creating greater prosperity for the Flemish people, I increasingly feel that compromise with the Belgian system has prevailed over genuine reform. In that sense, Belgium risks becoming a symbol of a wider European problem: governments that regulate and administer extensively, yet struggle to deliver growth, security, prosperity and long-term direction.
What would I do:
I would organize two referendums.
The first should ask: What should the maximum personal income tax rate be in Belgium? Personally, I would cap it at 35%.
The second should ask: Which government expenditures should be reduced to balance the budget? Voters could rank three areas where they believe savings should be made.
De Wever should put these questions directly to the people before his government turns into a political fiasco.