According to the opposition party Groen, Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) has been granted almost carte blanche to spend an additional €3.7 billion on the military this year.
Progressive Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke promises that there will be a parliamentary debate on the major strategic orientations, asserting, “All checks and balances will apply to Minister Francken as well,” as he stated on the programme De Zevende Dag.
The federal government decided over Easter to raise Belgium’s defence budget to meet the NATO standard of 2% of the gross domestic product this year. This decision implies an extra €3.7 billion in spending, but the allocation details remain unclear.
The opposition party Groen has expressed concerns. Budget documents reveal that the amount is allocated to a “provisional defence credit,” meaning only Francken and Budget Minister Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V) need to approve its spending, bypassing parliamentary oversight, criticises MP Staf Aerts, calling it “a dangerous precedent.”
Vandenbroucke emphasised that Francken does not have carte blanche, assuring that a parliamentary debate on the strategic orientations will take place and the expenditure will also be decided within the government. He stated, “All checks and balances will also apply to Minister Francken within the government.”
CD&V parliamentary group leader Nawal Farih confirmed that government consensus is required on the allocation of the extra defence funds. “Not a single list from any minister is non-negotiable. This concerns taxpayers’ money.”
N-VA group leader Axel Ronse stressed that the parliament can always question the minister and the government.
Flemish Interest MP Wouter Vermeersch declared that his party will monitor the issue in parliament and conduct oversight.
