Groen wants an extra 300 euros per month for those who fall just outside the social tariff | News

LOOK. Groen wants an extra 300 euros per month for those who fall just outside the social rate. Chairman Jeremie Vaneeckhout explains how he wants to pay for this

The greens gathered on Saturday in the Blikfabriek in Hoboken at a ‘Winter market’. Members and sympathizers could enjoy performances and stretch their legs on an ecological skating rink. And of course there was a New Year’s speech by the two co-chairs of the party. They responded to current events and the excise reform proposed earlier this week by Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V). This reform provides for a permanent reduction of VAT on electricity and natural gas to 6 percent, starting in April. In return, there will be an increase in excise duties.

“The excise reform must absolutely be introduced,” said Nadia Naji, who added that the social tariff must first be extended. Vaneeckhout went one step further and argued for a tax reform that should yield 300 euros net per month for those who fall just outside the social rate. “Because the need is great. Everyone has the right to a warm home and a decent income,” says Vaneeckhout. “By shifting taxes to the high incomes and high wealth, we are not leaving anyone behind. The 1 percent richest Belgians together earn as much as 70 percent of Belgians. We want a fair contribution from the strongest shoulders.”

Vaneeckhout also launched an appeal to the partners within Vivaldi in this regard. “Make a choice. Because poverty is not a choice. But we as politicians can make the choice to fight against poverty.”

For that Vivaldi government, where the Greens themselves are in the majority, the chairmen were particularly mild, with praise for their own ministers. “It’s not all roses and roses within Vivaldi. We often have hard discussions and do not always agree. But the Vivaldi government is handling crisis after crisis,” Naji said. He also made a critical comment. “We pulled out all the stops to protect people (…) But let’s be honest. That support could be more targeted. But it’s also temporary support and so just a painkiller, what we need is a long-term solution. The recent crises have been well managed. Now we need to reform.”

For the Flemish government, where the party is in the opposition, Naji and Vaneeckhout did not have a good word about it. “Twenty years of policy by traditional parties shows only one thing: their recipes do not work,” said Vaneeckhout. “Residential homes are unaffordable, waiting lists for mental health care are growing every day and parents are at a loss because there is no more room in childcare. Motivated teachers drop out. Our children, they are the victims of years of bad policy.”

The party also broke a lance for “more values” in politics on Saturday. “These are not easy times for political parties. Politics is too much determined by gut feeling and likes. That is a dangerous breeding ground for extreme parties. And everyone knows that. Traditional parties no longer dare to show courage and only want to score easily. While it is just now important to hold on to your values,” said Naji.

Green does not want to participate in that. “Center parties – whether they call themselves traditional, liberal or socialist – are increasingly flirting with far-right ideas or even copying them without hesitation. We are not participating,” added Vaneeckhout. “Today, politicians trip over each other, and their egos, by coming up with the most absurd ideas or strongest statements. We are not participating in that bidding to the abyss. We do politics for you, and for all Belgians,” said Groen co-chairwoman Nadia Naji.

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