Frédéric De Gucht, 45, is taking his salary as party chairman through his management company rather than standard employment, making him the only known political leader in the country to do so.
Federal Budget Debates Trigger Tax Dispute Over Management Companies
The disclosure emerged during a debate hosted by the liberal student association LVSV Ghent on Tuesday evening, October 6, 2026. De Gucht stated that he invoices the party directly for his work instead of operating as an employee. Other politicians attending the event, including CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi, registered visible surprise at the arrangement. The revelation coincides with the final phase of federal budget negotiations, during which the Vooruit party is pushing to extract more revenue from management vehicles. Socialists calculate that stricter measures targeting these structures could generate 4 miljard euro for the state.
Entrepreneurial Defense of Corporate Invoicing Structures
Defending his setup, De Gucht compared the structure to everyday professional investments made by independent practitioners. He pointed to his background as the twelve-year owner and CEO of Sprimoglass, a glass manufacturer based in Liège. To acquire shares in the past, he took out a loan via a company and subsequently billed his CEO services through that corporate vehicle. He likened the mechanism to a kinesiologist borrowing 300,000 to 500,000 euros for office rent and medical equipment upon starting a practice, then invoicing clients through a company. Beyond his party duties, De Gucht performs consulting work and sits on various boards of directors.
Criticizing the socialist proposals to curb management companies, De Gucht argued that the political framing unfairly targets self-employed workers in this country. He maintained that operating through a management company involves paying substantial taxes, including value-added tax, withholding tax, corporate tax, and social contributions on distributed wages. He also noted that independent operators cost the government less because they lack the social protections afforded to standard employees, receiving neither vacation days nor a thirteenth month. He asserted that preserving these structures is vital for encouraging economic risk-taking and growth.
Party Standpoints Across the Political Spectrum
Political parties across Belgium maintain varied setups regarding how their leadership is compensated. According to the reporting, N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit, and Groen confirmed that their respective chairs are not paid via management companies. Vlaams Belang did not respond to inquiries. On the French-speaking side, the MR and PS provided no response, while Les Engagés clarified that chairman Yvan Verougstraete is not compensated by the party, as he already draws a salary as a Member of the European Parliament.
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