Child murderer to be sentenced following conviction
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Chris Vanhaverbeke is expected to receive his sentence today after being found guilty of murdering his two young daughters and attempting to murder his ex-partner. This highly anticipated decision follows his conviction for the heinous crimes.
Meanwhile, the Flemish government faces strong backlash as cities and municipalities express their fury over budget cuts, labeling the government an "unreliable partner." Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele, from the N-VA party, is defending the austerity measures, citing €3.2 billion in savings, and has indicated that the possibility of firing civil servants will be investigated. The ongoing budget debate also highlights a generational conflict, questioning whether younger generations will bear the financial burden for older, wealthier ones.
In other news, the trial of former Flemish MP Sihame El Kaouakibi, whose parliamentary mandate ended in June 2024, has seen accusations surface that invoices were altered to secure subsidies from the city of Antwerp and the Flemish government. Separately, Education Minister Valérie Glatigny, of the Reformist Movement (MR), is embroiled in a dispute with trade unions over a 'Committee A' in the education sector, leading to new demonstrations in Liège.