“Government leaving public to pick up the tab”

The opposition parties in the Federal Parliament have criticised the measures contained in Prime Minister Charles Michel’s (Francophone liberal) “State of the Union” speech made on Tuesday morning. The Greens and the socialists say that once again it is ordinary people that will be left to foot the bill, which companies and those with big fortunes will get off Scot-free.

The leader of the Flemish socialist group in the Chamber of Representatives Meryame Kitir said that she was “very disappointed” that the government had chosen to ignore the call of the 100,000 trades’ unionists and others that took to the streets of Brussels last Wednesday. Ms Kitir added that the government has opted for imbalance and injustice.

“We have nothing against reducing taxes, but you shouldn’t take the geld to compensate for this from ordinary people.” There was criticism that the average 100 euro/month extra net income that will result from the tax shift won’t be available in full until 2019, while the indirect taxation designed to compensate for it will be brought in almost immediately.

Meanwhile, the Green’s Group Leader Kristof Calvo (small photo) said that it is not the tax shift that the country needs.

Mr Calvo criticised the fact that Mr Michel had promised to make tables containing statistics relevant to the budget available to MP, but had only provided half a page of A4. The Green Party Chairwoman Meyrem Almaci said “There are still no figures. This means that the tax shift still hasn’t been calculated”.

The Filip Dewinter of the far-right Vlaams Belang said that “the most important things were those that weren’t mentioned in the speech” such as immigration and asylum.
 

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