Flemish ministers receive ‘living allowance’ every month of more than 1,000 euros, on top of their wage of 20,000 euros gross
Every month the Flemish ministers receive a fixed amount of 247.89 euros (net) for their housing and another 867.63 euros (net) for their household costs. Together good for 1,152.52 euros per month on top of the ministerial wage of more than 21,500 euros gross. It is therefore officially serving for the owner -occupied home – regardless of whether they are renting or owners – but there is no control in return. With that money, the ministers can do what they want. A system that can no longer be justified, says opposition party PvdA.
« Ministers already earn absolute top wages, » says Flemish party leader Jos D’Haese. « Why should the taxpayer also have to pay for their household? In addition to their spacious wages, service cars and drivers, it now appears that they also reimburse their own housing costs. » As far as he is concerned, there is only one solution: to delete the reimbursements.
Since 1998
For the sake of clarity, it is all about allowances that have been fixed since 1998. In 2012, Prime Minister Kris Peeters (CD&V) prepared a circular letter about the status of the members of the Flemish Government. That the text is somewhat dated, is evident from the fact that a Flemish minister may also impose the « costs of telephone and fax for the home, including any second home, charged to the cabinet budget ».
The reimbursements were never indexed at all this time, but they always remained upright, the previous Minister of Domestic Gwendolyn Rutten (Open VLD) confirmed in 2024. « These expense allowances can be considered a form of fixed fee of costs, as also applies to Flemish representatives then, » was the explanation. And nothing has changed with the government change.
Flemish party leader Jos d’Haese (PvdA) labels the living allowance as « something from the last century » and wants to abolish it as quickly as possible. – © Belga
« In the mid-previous legislature, 8 percent were already saved on the wages of ministers. At the moment there is no further saving on the table, » responds Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). And those index jumps – then four were skipped – still work in the ministerial wages.
It is certain that the permanent living allowances « across the street », with the federal government, are a bit more gullier. There, the allowance for housing and household expenses is 1,923.82 euros per month, the Weekblad knew Le Vif to get up. And they should not be justified when the Flemish allowances are justified.
Sensitive
It is always a difficult thing for the seating governments to answer questions about their remuneration. On the one hand, the argument reads that your ministers and MPs can reimburse quite a strong reimbursement. They are jobs with a great responsibility. And you also do not want only wealthy people to be able to afford to become a minister or that elected representatives become easier.
« Ministers already earn absolute top wages. Why should the taxpayer also have to pay for their household? »
Jos d’Haese
Flemish party leader PvdA
On the other hand, the wage of a politician is always a continued topic. After all, it is about tax money. And it is extra sensitive if the governments tighten the belly belt with the population. That is precisely why the subject of parliamentary pensions in the Chamber was so characteristic. While already stuck how the pensions of the officials would be tightened, the MPs were driven with their own pension reform. To ultimately adjust it reluctantly. In the Flemish Parliament, the exercise must follow.
PvdA puts that plume on its own hat. « We are now going to get away from this privilege, » says D’Haese. « So that the ministers get a little more on the floor with their feet. »
