“Many Flemish people fell off their chairs when you proposed that 32-hour week”: De Croo sharply supports Magnette in RTL debate

“Many Flemish people fell off their chairs when you proposed that 32-hour week”: De Croo sharply supports Magnette in RTL debate | Domestic

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) and PS chairman Paul Magnette debated each other this evening on the French-language television channel ‘RTL-TVi’. The two government partners generally remained very friendly to each other, although their views on the purchasing power of Belgians, taxation and the 32-hour week dreamed of by the PS – unsurprisingly – appear to be very different. “Taxing the rich is like a magic potion according to the PS,” De Croo joked.

REVIEW the moment in the debate between Magnette and De Croo about the 32-hour week

When it comes to taxation, the differences between the Flemish liberal and the Walloon socialist are indistinguishable. Magnette started by advocating an increase in purchasing power of at least 300 euros for hard-working people, who “often find it difficult to make ends meet despite two incomes.” A plan that, according to the PS, will cost around 6 billion euros, money that he wants to get from a tax reform. De Croo then stood up for the hardworking entrepreneurs, who, thanks to their investments, help many Belgians find work. Taxing the rich more heavily is therefore not a solution, the liberal thinks. “This is a bit of the PS’s magic potion for every problem. Belgium is already a country where taxes are numerous,” he says.

Yet it is the MR that received the biggest flak from Magnette. “The MR has blocked the tax reform, although there was a broad consensus within the government to reduce taxes on low incomes,” Magnette said.

That other hobbyhorse of the PS, shorter careers and less work at the end of a long career, was also discussed. “Many Flemish people fell off their chairs when you proposed the 32-hour week,” says De Croo. “We see the situation in our country: there are 200,000 vacancies, there is an aging population, there are jobs in hospitals and schools that are not being filled,” he summarized. “Employees should not work less, we must make it a priority helping people who are not currently working to get started,” he said. “You have to be careful when you propose things like a 32-hour week. If you don’t realize it afterwards, people will lose their faith in politics,” De Croo pointed out. “One does not exclude the other,” Magnette refuted. “Of course we have to help people find work, but we also have to help those who have already had a long career,” says Magnette. “People who are older than 60, who often have physically demanding jobs, who are tired and who, thanks to such measures, could continue and not get sick.”

Governing together again?

When asked whether the PS and Open Vld will also join the next government, both ultimately gave the same diplomatic answer: “We have to wait for the results.” De Croo said “he wants to work with people who have the right priorities.” According to the Prime Minister, these priorities are getting more people to work, investing in security and making the country function, instead of getting stuck on reforms that yield nothing. Magnette spoke in retrospect and believes that the government has “done a good job”, after which he took one last swipe at the MR and the failure of the tax reform.

There is less agreement about who should become the next prime minister. Magnette assured that he will take responsibility if the socialist family remains the largest in the Chamber. De Croo believes that he has proven that he can bring the country together.