BELGIUM
Vatican Insider
A storm of anti-Catholic fury has hit Belgium as the public protests against allowances granted to royals. These are taxing times for Queen Fabiola who is being accused of trying to dodge taxes
Giacomo Galeazzi
Vatican city
Belgium’s Catholic sovereign is under attack. “Fabiola is channelling the annual stipend she receives from the government to the Catholic Church and relatives of hers.” The widow of King Baudouin has sparked controversy in Brussels as mass media and lay parties revealed she has created a private fund to bequeath part of her fortune to a number of Catholic charities established by her late husband and to relatives such as her nieces and nephews.
Television channels, newspapers and anti-monarchy political representatives have branded the establishment of her new foundation as ethically flawed as it is claimed it is a means to dodge Belgium’s extremely high inheritance taxes. Separatist MPs, the government, republicans, lay people and constitutionalists have pointed the finger at the Queen, in protest.
The most serious accusation against her is related to fiscal evasion: one minister explicitly mentioned her trying to dodge taxes. Questions have also been raised about the fairness of the Queen’s allowance as she is able to bequeath part of her fortune to her favourite charities, avoiding regular tax amounts. Above all, the monarchy has been criticised for its denominational neutrality.
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