Again questionable remuneration in the Chamber: 9 MPs asked for and received extra farewell payment of 26,600 euros gross, Carl Devos responds

Our editors have received documents that once again raise questions about remuneration in the House. MPs with a ‘special position’ can apply for an extra severance payment when they leave, it appears. In 2019, 9 politicians actually did that, including Eric Van Rompuy (CD&V), Dirk Van Mechelen (Open Vld), but also current pension minister Karine Lalieux (PS) and Siegfried Bracke (N-VA). On average, this concerns an annual supplement of 26,667 euros gross, sometimes for up to 4 years. “This is exactly a serial: new bits and pieces emerge every week,” responds political scientist Carl Devos (UGent).

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