2023-10-20 16:55:00
In recent months, calls for sobriety in terms of remuneration for political offices have multiplied. Because politics pays too well those who devote their careers to it?
“From the moment when liberal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo defends wage moderation and maintains it as is in the 1996 law relating to competitiveness, it is in his interest to set an example if he does not want the unions to continue to say that we must review this law”, slips Jean Faniel, the general director of Crisp (Centre for sociopolitical research and information).
But not everyone has a career. Of the tens of thousands of representatives that Belgium currently has, most only work in politics on certain days of the month or week, and only receive a few hundred euros per year.
Popular criticism and political taboo
These calls for salary moderation also echo the frequent criticisms that come from the population: “paid too much”, “disconnected from reality”, etc.
Really ? L’Avenir set out to meet elected officials, from all levels of power and all parties, who agreed to play the card of transparency by revealing to us what their mandate brings them.
Immediately, an observation emerged: not all those involved in political life talk easily regarding their remuneration.
If elected officials at the local level are more inclined to reveal the amount received, the situation is completely different as soon as we climb to the legislative level, where the question of the money thus gleaned remains taboo among certain representatives, even certain parties. .
The various requests from L’Avenir were, for example, rejected by the various assembly presidencies contacted (Walloon Parliament, Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, House of Representatives).
Others didn’t respond, promised to call us back, but didn’t…
Conversely, representatives took the opportunity to justify themselves and brush aside certain stereotypes. And this, even if they occupy a position which at first glance is particularly well paid.
This is because transparency, in terms of politics in general and remuneration of mandates in particular, remains a concept of variable geometry…
Disparities and influencing factors
The other major observation that emerges from this survey lies in the disparities that exist between the agents.
On the one hand, because the net salary received depends on the personal situation of the agent: whether he is isolated or not, whether he is responsible for a family, whether he exercises other mandates, whether he receives other income…
Most of the elected officials interviewed also admitted that they did not really know what they earned.
It must be said that few people admit to being in politics for financial gain.
On the other hand, there is a whole series of factors which come into play when establishing remuneration: the size of the population at the municipal level, the occupation of certain special functions at the legislative level, the title of the position at the executive level…
Enough to lead to differences which sometimes amount to thousands of euros between two elected officials exercising a similar mandate.
Busy schedules and white hair
Finally, a third observation is necessary. And this, whether it is verbalized by the agents interviewed – when they justify their remuneration – or more simply observable by their drawn features or the bags under their eyes: daily political work is tiring.
And social media only increases the pressure.
“We clearly saw that Alexander De Croo had noticeably whitened his hair since the start of the legislature, underlines Jean Faniel. Sometimes remuneration is not always linked to the investment of time.”
And it is probably no coincidence that almost one in four agents in Wallonia today hesitate to continue their investment…
Discover our special report in L’Avenir this Saturday, October 21, 2023, on tablet, smartphone or PC
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