the belgian goverment’s proposed tax on leisure โactivities, including cinema, has โignited โfury within the film industry, promptingโ threats of legal action. Cinema federation representatives denounced the measure as “ridiculous” and aโฃ sign of governmental โฃmisunderstanding of the sector, vowing to challengeโ it โคinโ court.
The plannedโ tax,impacting festivals alongside cinemas,is set โฃto take affectโค December 1st,alongside changes to consumer credits and โขsecurity atโ nuclear sites. The industry’s outrage stems from the principle of taxing cultural โpursuits,with the federation prepared to appeal to the Councilโข of State and the Competition Council to overturn what theyโข call an “aberration.” The โขcriticism extends to members of the MR party โขwho supported the โคmeasure,raising questions about theโฃ government’s commitment to a thriving cultural landscape.
“Not only is it ridiculous, what the government โisโ doing, it means that we don’t understand the sector,”โค a representative stated, signalingโ the federation’s โintent to pursue all available legal avenues should the decision be formalized.
The controversy underscores aโ broader concern about the valuation of culture within Belgian society, with criticsโ questioning how the โgovernment can foster โa vibrant arts scene while concurrently imposing financial burdens on it.
