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Geert Noels wrote that Belgian politicians, in his view, faced the choice of making Belgium resemble France or Denmark. He emphasized that this outcome, according to him, was the result of an active choice, not something that happened on its own. https://t.co/Lu19zwwBsI #België #Politiek #Keuze (translated)

DNB president Olaf Sleijpen warns that, from an economic perspective, the choice for climate measures is the only correct one, given the significant financial consequences of climate change that are already visible in the current economy. #Klimaatverandering #Economie #DNB (translated)

Max von Kreyfelt stated in his column that the government should first cut its own spending before asking citizens to be frugal. He cited the renovation of the Binnenhof as an example: it was estimated in 2015 to cost 475 million euros, but according to him, the costs had risen to at least 2.7 billion euros by 2026. He wrote that the Court of Audit had called the original estimate unrealistically low. Von Kreyfelt urged ministries to demonstrate what their expenditures yielded. He mentioned European contributions, nitrogen policy, climate programs, migration, and development aid, and asked what problem was being solved, at what cost, and when funding would stop. He also suggested that it should first be demonstrated at 2.5 percent of GDP what Defense could purchase, organize, and staff. According to him, the NATO agreement for 2035 required 5 percent: at least 3.5 percent for defense and a maximum of 1.5 percent for broader security. He wrote that Donald Trump had requested 5 percent. The columnist also criticized the use of consultants and administrative layers. According to him, budget deficits could arise from overly ambitious promises, poor estimates, and too few cuts, and these did not prove that citizens were paying too little. He concluded that the government needed to shrink first. https://t.co/V2P6pFuNy1 #Overheid #Financiën #Soberheid (translated)

Monique X-Fluencer wrote that a white man on Love is Blind said he wasn't into dark-skinned women. According to her, he could have that preference, but he received online criticism. She referred to a woman who, in her opinion, believed a white person shouldn't express a preference, while the same should apply to a dark person because slavery and apartheid had only recently been abolished. Monique argued that there was racism and discrimination when people were treated differently based on skin color or ethnicity. She used derogatory language about the woman and others who shared her viewpoint. #liefde #racisme #discriminatie (translated)

Tadek Solarz wrote that the Volkskrant had reported the day before that Greta Thunberg had joined the French student protests and that the NOS had emphasized that the majority of the protests were peaceful. On X, he had seen footage of a woman trying to defend her store against looters and of a shopkeeper who was assaulted and kicked in the back. According to Solarz, those images could symbolize a distressed France and broader unrest. He stated that the tone and image choices of the Volkskrant and the NOS gave violence a different place in the story than the images he saw on X, which focused on victims. The criticism that X algorithms amplify certain messages and thus distort the perception of reality, he believed, also applied to the selection made by newsrooms. Solarz wrote that the woman and her looted store could have been front-page news and that her fear could have become the face of the protests. #journalistiek #mediatheorie #protesten (translated)

With the National Program Space for Defense, we create the necessary space for the growth of defense. In a densely populated country, this has a huge impact on society. Our choices are the result of a careful consideration between military necessity and the interests of the surrounding area. Secretary of State Boswijk understands that the decision has significant consequences for local residents. #LelystadAirport #F35 #Defensie (translated)

"This is based on the right that a woman has to make the choice to terminate the pregnancy in case of an emergency. I not only accept that right, I stand firmly behind it." Hermans stood his ground and stated that there is no question of a relaxation of the legislation. #Abortusdebat #SGP #Volksgezondheid (translated)

The cabinet has made tough choices and is investing 18 billion euros in the maintenance of infrastructure, which means that many ambitious traffic projects, including highway expansions, will not receive funding for the time being, and congestion in certain regions will not decrease. #infrastructuur #verkeer #onderhoud (translated)

The SGP expressed its disapproval of the support from the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport for a controversial trial involving late-term abortions. According to the party, this concerned viable, healthy babies that would consciously be allowed to die, sometimes after birth. The SGP stated that healthcare providers normally did everything to keep babies alive and that the protection of life was a foundation of civilization. The party regretted that the minister did not take a step back for a political and social debate. Diederik van Dijk submitted a motion of disapproval on behalf of the SGP. #Levensbescherming #Abortus #Politiek (translated)

The proposal by Minister Sophie Hermans to stop the 13-week ultrasound is seen as a deterioration of care, as maintaining this ultrasound in an improved form offers important benefits for early diagnosis and the choice of pregnant women. #13wekenecho #gezondheidszorg #keuzevrijheid (translated)