Frédéric De Gucht calls for shorter parliamentary holidays: “The system belongs to another age”

Frédéric De Gucht wants Belgium’s parliamentary summer recess cut to one month, from mid-July to mid-August. The Anders party leader says lawmakers should return in mid-August instead of remaining away for two months.

“

The system belongs to another age.

De Gucht criticised the current schedule while pointing to a series of unresolved problems. He cited a fire in the Hautes Fagnes, shootings in Brussels and an economy facing zero growth, high inflation and very high interest rates. He also said the budget continues to deteriorate.

“Fire in the Hautes Fagnes. Shootings in Brussels. Meanwhile, our economy is at a standstill: zero growth, high inflation, very high interest rates... and the budget continues to get worse. But what are politicians doing? Two months away,” he said.

“

Fire in the Hautes Fagnes. Shootings in Brussels. Meanwhile, our economy is at a standstill: zero growth, high inflation, very high interest rates... and the budget continues to get worse. But what are politicians doing? Two months away.

He compared the parliamentary break to the way a business owner would operate, saying that maintaining such an absence would quickly lead a company to bankruptcy. The proposal comes as several important issues remain on the political agenda.

“

Imagine behaving that way with your company as an entrepreneur. You would go bankrupt in no time.