A prince, Lorenzo of Saxe-Coburg, in conflict with the Belgian State while his brother, King Philip, is its leader: the case that the magistrates of the Brussels labor court must decide is not trivial. At 61 years old, the prince denounces that he and his family are denied social security coverage. Stating that he would be a worker like any other, he intends to obtain reimbursement for his care and a retirement pension. On Monday, November 25, the court held a first hearing and announced that it would give itself time to think: the turbulent son of the Belgian dynasty will not know until April 2025 whether he will win his case.
“I wanted to work, but they prevented me”declared in 2023 the youngest son of former King Albert II (1993-2013), then pointing to the latter’s chief of staff. Today, says M.my Olivier Rijckaert, Laurent, however, carries out an independent activity subject to all the obligations required by his royal status. “ In one year, 93 visits, missions, board meetings, that is impressive. And the prince also has a camp of aides and an office in the palace.”the lawyer argued.
In exchange for what he considers a profession like any other, Laurent, now only fourteenth in the order of succession to the throne, receives an annual “endowment” of 388,000 euros. This public money consists of a kind of taxable salary –110,000 euros gross–, the rest covers “operational and personnel costs” to justify. The prince’s father, former King Albert II, 90, receives an annual endowment of 923,000 euros.
“A small businessman”
Since it pays taxes and is considered “a small businessman” In the service of his family, the prince demands the social rights guaranteed to his fellow citizens. The Belgian State’s lawyers, for their part, maintain that the amount of their subsidy should allow them to take out private insurance, while Mmy Rijckaert defends his client’s right to register in a social security fund, as all self-employed workers can do. The problem for the king’s brother: although he pays taxes, he does not contribute to social security, which theoretically deprives him of the corresponding rights.
Evidently, those who defined the rules of royal investiture did not foresee that one of its beneficiaries could one day claim a status, whether independent, employee or official. Demanding, during a public appearance on November 15, “respect for an elementary right”, Prince Laurent said: “ I don’t do it out of financial means, but out of respect. When a migrant comes here, they register and have rights. Maybe I am also an immigrant, but whose family created the Belgian State. »
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