UPDATE“If there are no investments in childcare, there will be no September statement.” CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi said this on Sunday in ‘The seventh day’. CD&V wants to release 300 to 350 million euros and now seems to be making this a breaking point. Flemish Minister Hilde Crevits reiterates the need for additional investments at VTM NIEUWS, but takes a softer tone than her chairman. “I have no vetoes myself and am open to all proposals.”
LOOK. How loud does CD&V want to play it? “I have no vetoes,” says Crevits at VTM NIEUWS
CD&V wants extra money for childcare. Flemish Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits said this in our newspaper this Saturday. With the budget, the party wants to create more income-related places in childcare. In addition, the party wants to reduce the maximum number of children per supervisor. Mahdi now repeats that call in ‘The Seventh Day’ on VRT 1. “Resources must be added, capacity must be increased and the number of children per supervisor must decrease; and for that we have to invest,” said Mahdi.
Flemish Budget Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) previously announced that the margin will be limited when drawing up the budget. The CD&V chairman disagrees with this. “You will get a big return on every euro you invest,” it says. Mahdi also takes a swipe at coalition partner N-VA. “It is special when the budgetary flag is raised and when it is not. When it comes to a large culinary center or a canon of Flanders, I have not heard that comment.”
Budget negotiations have yet to start, but for CD&V it is clear: investing in child care is of paramount importance to the party. During last year’s negotiations, the indexation of child benefits was also a red line for the Christian Democrats. This ultimately led to a deep crisis within the government and to a postponement of the September Declaration. Are we in danger of ending up in the same scenario?
“We must reach an agreement that is ambitious enough. I have recently heard from many government parties that they understand that investments are needed. Then put your money where your mouth is,” said Sammy Mahdi. “Nobody has the ambition to postpone the September Declaration. But Hilde was clear about that last weekend. If there is no investment in childcare, you cannot continue,” says Mahdi. “If there are no investments, there will be no September statement.”
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Crevits: “We have to figure it out together”
Flemish Minister Hilde Crevits joined her party chairman at VTM NIEUWS and reiterated the need for additional investment, but took a softer tone than Mahdi. “I have no vetoes myself and am open to all proposals, but additional resources really need to go to childcare.”
Despite the strong language of her chairman, she seems to dismiss the fact that the discussions within the Flemish government will be difficult. “This is not an issue. All parties have already stated that they want to invest additionally. Additional investments are needed. And we have to figure it out together,” it sounds soothing.
LOOK. The full conversation with Flemish minister Hilde Crevits
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