The Federal Finance Minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist says that his Chief of Staff Wesley De Visscher has done no wrong by being a guest speaker at a 160-euro-a-ticket seminar for businesspeople about the Federal Government’s tax reform plans. Mr De Visscher says that the lecture he gave at the seminar was about what is in the coalition agreement and that he gave no details that had not already been discussed in parliament.
Finance Minister says Chief of Staff “has done no wrong” by being guest speaker at tax reform seminar for businesspeople
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Wesley De Visscher is not only Mr Jambon’s Chief of Staff but was also a negotiator during the talks on the formation of the Federal Government coalition. His talk has been billed by the organisers as “going much further than the figures or the texts” and offering “‘offers a look behind the scenes of the tax reform plans" and that it is "an incisive first-hand reflection on the plans straight from the federal government”
The Brugge company SBM that organises seminars for businesspeople is charging 160 euro excluding VAT a head for those that wished to hear Mr De Visscher speak.
“It couldn’t get much more ethically incorrect than this”
The subject of Monday evening’s lecture was the bill recently approved by the federal government that as well as limiting the amount of time a person can claim unemployment benefit also contains several fiscal reform measures including changes to the fiscal regime on company cars and tax breaks on second homes. However, the bill has yet to be put before parliament. Speaking during a meeting of the Finance Select Committee on Tuesday the Flemish green federal MP Meyrem Almaci said “It couldn’t get much more ethically incorrect than this”
The Flemish liberal Alexia Betrand said "Those who wish to know now what the reforms entail apparently have to invite Jambon's Chief of Staff to give a lecture. This was already the 4th of its kind. This way of working shows disdain for parliament and raises a lot of ethical questions".
Jan Jambon: "Done nothing wrong"
Mr Jambon and Mr De Visscher both went to Tuesday morning’s Select Committee meeting to explain. According to the Mr Jambone "nothing untoward happened." The finance minister stressed that his Chief of Staff was not paid for the lecture and that he himself will regularly speak at events to explain the Federal Government’s finance policies.
"While I was there I gave an explanation concerning the fiscal measures contained in the coalition agreement. Just a broad outline." To give credence to his argument, Mr Jambon shared the slides of his presentation with MPs. Nevertheless, the opposition still does not believe he did not reveal details about the reform.