Belgium faces another political crisis as Prime Minister Bart De Wever struggles to secure agreement on the 2027 federal budget. Coalition disagreements over taxation and spending cuts have delayed negotiations and fuelled tensions. Following nationwide protests, De Wever has reduced his immediate budget target to approximately €4 billion, temporarily abandoning controversial VAT increases.
Bart De Wever was supposed to defend the middle class. Yet I increasingly fear that his government will resort to raising taxes again.
Belgium is rapidly losing its appeal to investors and entrepreneurs. Why would anyone establish a company here when taxes and compulsory contributions consume so much of their earnings?
In my case, I estimate that approximately 80% of my earnings disappear into taxes and other charges. And with what’s left, I still have to pay rent, food, electricity and other essential expenses.
Meanwhile, I personally know people who receive unemployment benefits while working in the undeclared economy. Some businesses also operate partly off the books, avoiding taxes that law-abiding citizens must pay.
The result is deeply frustrating: those who work, create businesses and respect the rules feel increasingly penalized, while abuses of the welfare and tax systems appear to go unchecked.
How much longer can Belgium keep increasing the burden on people who work and contribute?
I’ve come to the conclusion that Bart De Wever will do absolutely nothing for Belgium’s middle class. He promised change, but all I see is more pressure on hardworking citizens.
He’s lost my confidence. It’s time to vote for someone else.
We were promised change. Instead, we feel betrayed. We’ve been lied to.