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Didier Reynders’ double pension raises questions

Didier Reynders, former Belgian minister and European commissioner, is at the center of the news over suspicions of money laundering. This context offers the opportunity to take an interest in one’s financial situation, and in particular the amount of one’s pension, which illustrates a very specific mechanism: double pension.

According to information from Sudinfo, Didier Reynders receives a cumulative pension of 12,629 euros gross. A high amount which can be explained by the fact that the former Belgian minister receives both a Belgian pension and a pension linked to his international function as European commissioner which he exercised from 2019 to 2024.

A national and European retreat

Since his retirement on August 6 (the day he turned 66), Didier Reynders has received two separate pensions. The first is linked to his many years of career in Belgium, as deputy, minister and president of SNCB. This pension is capped by the Wijninckx mechanism. Established in 2012, named after Jan Wijninckx, a senior civil servant and advisor, this system aims to cap the particularly high pensions of Belgian civil servants and political representatives, by introducing an overall income limit for retirement. Currently, this ceiling is set at 8129.08 euros gross per month, in accordance with the evolution of the health index.

12,629.08 euros gross per month

Reynders’ second pension comes from his mandate as European Commissioner, a position he held from 2019 to 2024. This amounts to around 4,500 euros gross per month, calculated on 18% of his European salary, in depending on its seniority. By combining these two amounts, Didier Reynders’ total pension reaches 12,629.08 euros gross monthly, SudInfo calculated, a figure well above the average pension in Belgium, which fluctuates around 1,600 euros for employees and 1,050 euros for independent. Amounts which may vary depending on seniority, contributions and professional status.

If Reynders can pocket these two pensions each month, well beyond the imposed ceiling, it is because the system does not apply to income from international pensions, such as those from a position in the European Union ( European Commissioner, MEP, etc.). This allows former politicians who have held international functions to accumulate amounts far exceeding the ceilings imposed on their colleagues who remained in strictly national mandates.

Not the only one

The case of Didier Reynders highlights a particularity of the Belgian retirement system. This situation is not unique. Personalities like Charles Michel, former Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, or Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister and MEP, also benefit or will benefit from pensions accumulated thanks to their international careers.

In addition, other exceptions allow certain politicians to escape pension limitations. For example, the presidents of the Chamber benefit from pension bonuses, while deputies in place before 2014 can claim amounts exceeding 9,000 euros per month. Before this date, 20 years in office was enough to benefit from a full career of 45 years.

A necessary reform?

The case of Didier Reynders rekindles the discussion on the justice and transparency of the retirement system in Belgium. While the majority of citizens must be content with modest pensions, the high amounts accumulated by political elites, often thanks to exceptional mechanisms, arouse frustration and incomprehension. A reform of the rules for accumulating pensions could be necessary to restore confidence in the system and strengthen its fairness.

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