Tom Ongena — © BELGA
Open VLD is heading to the June 9 elections with the slogan “Make tomorrow work”. Party chairman Tom Ongena revealed this on Saturday afternoon at the Growth Congress in Brussels, where the Growth Plan, the election manifesto of the Flemish liberals and democrats, was also approved.
Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 5:32 PM
For Open VLD, this Growth Plan should keep our companies competitive and, with measures that work, wages will bring more people to work. The difference between working and not working must become greater. Up to 500 euros net per month, with a higher job bonus and the removal of the 45% personal tax bracket. But also by putting a brake on the growth of benefits, according to Ongena.
Open VLD wants to limit unemployment over time and make OCMWs responsible for guiding people with a living wage to a job more quickly. “We are removing barriers to working. By introducing tax-free hours: anyone who wants to do extra work should be able to do so indefinitely and tax-free. So that earning extra becomes ‘earning happily’,” the chairman added.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo pointed out the merits of his government, which was confronted with a number of crises, but also appealed not to go along with the doom-mongering of some.
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Anti-politics
“Let us work together, instead of putting sticks in each other’s wheels,” he addressed the N-VA, without mentioning the party by name. “We will certainly not be better off with parties that predict the end of our country, or – just as bad – spend all day playing tactical games. To govern or not to govern with the extreme right? Yes or no business cabinet? The nationalists are increasing the extremists every day. They fuel anti-politics. They are playing with the prosperity of all Belgians. It’s true. The nationalists also have a plan. A demolition plan. Without reconstruction,” he criticized.
For the Prime Minister, what is happening at Van Hool today is a blow to thousands of employees. “But that is allowed and that will not be fatal. The message is not that these people and this prosperity are irrevocably lost. On the contrary: we must create new industry with new jobs and new technology, so that everyone is on board again. Also the people at Van Hool. We leave no one behind,” says De Croo. “We must ensure that entrepreneurship is given space here. Otherwise they will leave,” he added.
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Tom Ongena also had a sneer at CD&V when he talked about the ‘freedom’ part of the Growth Plan. “Freedom is close to our hearts as liberals. Being able to be who you are, living the life you choose, but also being able to choose to end suffering. To always be able to maintain control over your end of life. So no, Sammy, we are passing for a procession from Echternach. We are prepared for further delaying maneuvers. We ask for respect for the choices that people want to make themselves,” it said.