The Flemish Parliament is going to make efficiency saving totaling 23 million euro between now and the end of the current legislature. As part of the economy drive, MPs will not receive any index-linked pay rise during the coming years and various additional allowances that are currently given to members of the Flemish Parliament will be scrapped. There will also be reforms to the system of allowances for former MPs that have left the parliament of their own volition (retirement or resignation) or because they have failed to be reelected.
On Monday, the body that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Flemish Parliament, the “Bureau”, agreed on its budget for the period from 2026 until 2030. This includes a series of cuts totaling 23 million euro.
The Flemish Parliament’s Speaker Freya Van den Bossche (socialist) told journalists that “Members of Parliament do not need inexplicable benefits. If something cannot be justified, we simply should not do it anymore”.
The Flemish Parliament is implementing a substantial reduction in the allowance for departing MPs finishing their mandate. The allowance will be reduced and its duration halved.
MPs' expenses allowance will no longer be included in the calculation made when determining the allowance given to departing MPs. This will constitute a saving of 2,650 euro per departing MP per month. The maximum duration of the allowance will also be halved from 24 to 12 months.
In addition to this, MPs will not receive an index-linked salary increase between now and 2030. This will amount to a total saving of between 18,000 or 24,000 euro per MP. There are 124 MPs in the Flemish Parliament.
Additional allowances
The Bureau has also approved the abolitition of several additional allowances for Bureau members and committee chairs. The allowance for the speaker of the Flemish Parliament will be reduced by 13%. Ms Van den Bossche is also making savings by not asking for a chauffeur.
Other benefits enjoyed by members of the Flemish Parliament are also being cut. These include the budgets that MPs can use to order office supplies, a contribution to internet MPs' costs and the budget for foreign travel and working visits. Party subsidies and operating allowances will remain frozen until the end of the legislative period.
Fewer staff, pension bonus abolished
Staff at the Flemish Parliament will also be impacted by the economy drive. During the coming years, 14 staff members will not be replaced when they retire. The pension bonus given to Flemish Parliament staff when they retire will also be reformed. Currently, staff members receive four months' gross salary when they retire. This bonus will be abolished.
By investing in the training of its own staff, the parliament will need to rely much less on consultancy services. Significant savings will also be made on the organisation of events and receptions and on travel and accommodation costs. Meanwhile, some planned refurbishment work will not go ahead.