Johan Van Overtveldt wishes to bring national debt to below 100% of GDP

Johan Van Overtveldt wishes to bring national debt to below 100% of GDP
Asset sales will not be enough to achieve Van Overtveldt’s goal. He is thought to have other potential ideas as well.

The Finance MInister, Johan Van Overtveldt (New Flemish Alliance), wishes to bring the national debt back to below the threshold of 100% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is below the current government projection and is indicated in his general policy note for 2018. It was was reported in L'Echo and De Tijd on Sunday.

In his 2018 general policy note, which will be discussed on Wednesday in parliament, Johan Van Overtveldt has announced his intention to bring back to below 100% of GDP the burden of the debt. The figure should reach 102.7% of GDP by the end of 2018. All of this will necessitate asset sales for more than €11.4 billion. However L'Echo indicates that Belfius and BNP Paribas are saying that these measures will not be enough.

Various sources are indicating that the minister is also banking upon other avenues to raise funds than simply privatisations, such as “technical interventions”.


The Brussels Times


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