“Every tax destroys value and growth in our country. Now is the time to focus on two priorities: implementing the agreed reforms and reducing public spending,” Georges-Louis Bouchez said this weekend in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.
The MR President is setting the bar high and wants to achieve 30 to 40 percent of the government agreement before the end of the year. “For the budget preparation in October, we need to reach a major agreement to speed up all the important reforms. Starting with the tax reform, which we will discuss in the coming weeks. Working people should already receive more net pay from 2026. Without any additional taxes. With the capital gains tax, I paid the political bill. Now the main course must be served.”
At the same time, Bouchez warns that he will oppose the so-called ETS2 regulation. This is a new European climate measure that requires companies supplying fuels for buildings (such as homes and offices) and transport (such as cars and lorries) to pay for the CO₂ emissions caused by their fuels. “The bill for this could also be passed on to consumers from 2027,” Bouchez explains. “We are already gathering 17 countries around us to prevent that. I am even looking into what the consequences would be if we did not implement this climate rule. Politicians must also be gamechangers.”