ALDE Party member Open VLD (Belgium) voted a negative income tax, better activation of unemployed people and removal of the registration fees for young families at their second ‘Liberal Fire’ congress.

The party adopted these and other resolutions at their congress themed “Progress in a modern economy” on Saturday 21 May.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and party leader Egbert Lachaert welcomed the members by emphasizing the importance of its knowledge-based economy:

“We need to strengthen the economy by making work more attractive and competitive. Innovation and creativity mean prosperity”, said Lachaert.

“Our natural resources are our people. We need to use our talents even more”, stated De Croo.

“Onze natuurlijke rijkdom is onze mensen. We moeten nog meer van ons talent benutten.”@alexanderdecroo #LiberaalVuur pic.twitter.com/T9JyBnUkYw

— Open Vld (@openvld) May 21, 2022

During the working groups Belgian State Secretary Eva De Bleeker and members of the Flemish Parliament Maurits Vande Reyde and Steven Coenegrachts took the lead on Work, Entrepreneurship and Housing resulting in the following policy positions:

Work:

• Intensify labour activation: compulsory retraining after two years of inactivity
• Negative Income Tax to counter unemployment and promotion trap
• More flexible work
• Cheaper childcare centers for employees

Entrepreneurship:

• Freer wage negotiations and evening opening hours
• Incorporating students at the workplace

Housing:

• Increase housing supply to reduce the house prices
• 0% registration fees for single-family houses

These policy proposals will be part of the grand ideological congress that takes place in 2023.

💙🔥👇 #LiberaalVuur pic.twitter.com/J0eA3lVlpO

— Open Vld (@openvld) May 21, 2022

The next Liberal Fire Congress “Freedom today and tomorrow” will take place in Antwerp on 17 September.