By Frances Robinson
In a break from Belgians taking to the street in anger at the lack of government, Belgians have taken to the street in anger at the high taxes they pay to fund this nongovernment. Belgium has one of the highest tax burdens in Europe — estimated at 58% by this expat website — and the 50% tax bracket for earners begins at just €34,300. To compound the perceived injustice, labor is taxed very highly, while tax rates for assets are extremely low, leading to French rock icon Johnny Hallyday seeking Belgian nationality in order to hang onto his fortune.
According to local newswire Belga, 300 furious taxpayers protested outside the finance ministry about the high tax rates and the injustice of large fortunes and businesses getting an easy ride compared to individual workers, especially in an environment of government austerity programs. “This isn’t about more taxes, it’s about different taxes,” the protesters, who were organized by the Network for Fiscal Justice, said according to Belga.
They want to see progressive tax on large personal fortunes, an end to banking secrecy in order to combat tax fraud, and a tax on windfall profits at energy company Electrabel, and a raft of other measures to prevent workers shouldering the burden of any tax increase.
Factor in the rifts between Flemish-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia, and the argument over the reform of social security transfers from the prosperous North to post-industrial towns like Charleroi in the South, and middle-class taxpayers are even more resentful. As government negotiations rumble on — the country will soon overtake Iraq’s record for the longest time without government following an election — discontent is continuing to rise.
Perhaps the women of Belgium could withhold sex until the tax laws are changed?
Then go home!
As an American living in Belgium, let me say that the taxes are indeed absurd.