Frank Vandenbroucke
Photo: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 from Belgium, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- Oct 28
Vooruit's Conner Rousseau wants more from wealthy to unblock Belgian budget talks
Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau is waiting for Prime Minister Bart De Wever's next proposal and wants 1.5 billion euros from large fortunes, but he rules out a government collapse.
- Oct 26
Belgium postpones smoking ban on hospitality terraces planned for 1 January 2027
The smoking ban on hospitality terraces will not take effect on 1 January 2027, after the Council of State asked for changes to the measure. No new start date has been set.
- Oct 24
Rousseau rejects blame for Belgian budget delay and wants richest to pay more
Vooruit chairman Conner Rousseau says the slow budget talks are not his party's fault and asks for a bigger contribution from the wealthiest. He answers Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who said everyone will feel the budget effort.
- Jul 5
Belgium's health minister moves to take over 1733 emergency line after heatwave wait times hit 25 minutes
After wait times of up to 25 minutes during the recent heatwave, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke wants to transfer the 1733 non-emergency medical line from the Interior Ministry to his own department.
- Jun 27
Heatwave doubles Belgium’s emergency calls to 11,784 in a day, 20 extra ambulances deployed as hospitals hit capacity
Belgium’s emergency number 112 received 11,784 calls on Friday, nearly double the daily average, as a prolonged heatwave pushed ambulance interventions to 4,324 and forced the deployment of 20 extra vehicles. Hospital emergency departments are now warning of longer waiting times and strained geriatric wards.
