The attempt of a Belgian prince to claim social security benefits in addition to his six -digit royal allowance was rejected by a court.
Prince Laurent – King Philippe’s younger brother – received € 388,000 (£ 295,850; $ 376,000) from public funds last year, but said that his work gives him the right and his family to social security.
He had argued that he was partly self-employed because of the functions he exercises as a royal, as well as a charity for animal welfare over the past decade.
Laurent, 61, said that he was acting by “principle” rather than for money. The court did not agree.
“When a migrant comes here, he registers, he has the right to (social security),” he told the Belgian RTBF broadcaster.
“I may also be a migrant, but the one whose family has established the state in place.”
But on Monday, a Brussels court refused Laurent’s request on the grounds that the prince cannot be considered as self -employed workers or an employee.
However, according to the VTM diffuser, the judge acknowledged that the prince should actually have a pension – but said that the gaps in the legislation made this impossible and asked that the law be changed.
His lawyer, Olivier Rijckaert, told the Belgian newspaper Le Soir that Laurent’s request had not been based on a “whim” and insisted on his symbolism, affirming that social security is “granted by Belgian law to all residents, from the most private to the richest”.
Mr. Rijckaert also said that most of the prince’s allowance was spent for the salary of his assistant and various travel costs.
This means that Laurent ends up with around € 5,000 (£ 4,300; $ 5,500) per month but no social security benefits, such as the right to claim certain medical expenses.
The Prince – who has three adult children with the wife of British origin Claire Coombs – also expressed his concerns concerning the well -being of his family, because the royal allowance will be cut off.
Laurent brought legal action against the Belgian state after his request for social security has been refused. A first hearing took place in November 2024.
According to RTBF, the prince and his legal advisor have not yet decided to appeal the decision of the court.
Laurentm who is the 15th of the Belgian succession line, is not unrelated to controversy and is sometimes called the Cursed prince – The “cursed prince” – in Belgium.
In 2018, the Belgian Federal Parliament voted for Post your monthly allowance for a year After having attended a reception of the Chinese Embassy without authorization from the government, in full naval uniform.
He also accumulated Several fines at speed And was criticized for having attended meetings in Libya when the late Muammar Gaddafi was still in power.
