Both the Flemish and federal parliaments in Belgium have decided to extend the freeze on party funding for another year, halting the planned indexation that would have increased

party budgets by several percentage points. This move reflects an ongoing effort to curb political financing in the country.

During a late-night session on Thursday, the federal parliament unanimously approved a 5.32% reduction in party funding for 2025. This measure continues the policy introduced by the outgoing De Croo government, which aimed to prevent automatic budget increases through indexation. Initially set to expire on 31 December 2024, the policy will now remain in effect for an additional year.

Peter De Roover, the federal parliamentary speaker from the right-wing N-VA party, proposed the extension. He described the measure as temporary, expressing hope that a broader agreement on political financing could be reached once a new federal government is formed.

A persistent issue

The Flemish parliament has also opted to forgo the indexation of party funding in 2025, following a similar decision for 2024. This decision is projected to save approximately €239,000 next year.

Party funding has long been a contentious topic in Belgium. Many political parties, particularly during election campaigns, have publicly advocated for reductions in their own budgets. Despite these calls, reaching consensus on overhauling the financing system has proven difficult.

Current negotiations among the N-VA, Christian Democrats (CD&V), Socialists. Photo by Spotter2, Wikimedia commons.