Belgian prince loses legal battle to receive social security benefits on top of royal allowance
Prince Laurent had argued that his work entitled him to the same benefits as independent entrepreneurs but a court in Brussels disagreed
He said Laurent received a salary worth only 25% of his allowance, because the rest went on covering professional expenses including travel and wages for a staff member.
So he's not counting it because... he spends it. Weird take.
Rijckaert said this results in a monthly net wage for the prince of €5,000 which is comparable to the “average salary of a senior executive in Belgium” but without the usual “full social security coverage”.
Not a bad wage just for being born.
Not a bad wage just for being born.
Circumstances aside, he does have to work for it.
Even judged by the average royal family member, this person must be quite the arsehole:
Laurent received €388,000 (£333,000) last year from state coffers and lives in his home rent-free. “This is not about financial means but principle,” he told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. “When a migrant comes here, he registers, he has a right to it. I may be a migrant too, but one whose family established the state in place,” he added.
WTF?!
Talking about deeper motivations, I suspect this made him throw a hissy fit:
In 2018, his annual state allowance was cut by 15% for a year because he met foreign dignitaries without the federal government’s approval.
Reading more of the article he says a few things that seem to make sense on the surface:
Laurent and his British wife, Claire, have three children now in their 20s. He pointed to medical costs and his concerns over his family’s financial well-being, since the royal allowance will be cut when he dies.
until you consider that he does get 32 000 euro per month.
I'm glad to hear that Belgium treats its royalty like normal people.
Royalties are normal people. The age of divine right and magic swords are over.
Try telling that to the UK.
We've got old sausage fingers to cough up for.
They should have told him if it's about principles not money, if he is "retiring" then he'll no longer need his "salary" so he can choose between his allowance and royal accommodation and the pension.
Of course it's about money. It always is. He is just another entitled wanker who thinks he "deserves" while others "take".
It's an interesting societal question. Every worker has the right to social security, which should be paid by the employer. Is a prince who get an allowance a worker ? I don't know the list of duties coming with it.
20 years ago, a group of french Ph.D student who were funded by a large cancer/disability foundation went to court to get social security, and they win, because they weren't given pocket money by the foundation but were actually working for them, giving them the same right as every ohter worker. When you're 25 year old you may not need social security (well breaking a leg may happen) but when you're 60 year old you have significant chance to get large medical fee.
Is a prince who get an allowance a worker
No. Aristocracy has never been working class.
Is a person who rents out their properties a worker? No. Not even if they spend all day filling out paperwork, working with contractors, and speaking to tenants.
If the prince wants social security, he can give up his title and allowance and apply for it. If not, he can save some of his €388,000 annual salary and invest it so that he is able to retire comfortably.
He is not being disadvantaged here and he knows it. He just hopes to convince enough stupid people that he deserves their piece of the pie too.
Sounds like it's time for Belgium to become a republic. Perhaps the French have some input on how to go about establishing one.
I mean, obviously...
