World Cup flights cost Belgium half a million

Politicians from the previous Belgian government under Elio Di Rupo last year partook in two round-trip flights to Brazil on the occasion of the World Cup. The flights cost Belgian taxpayers a total of €500,000, according to figures from Defence Minister Steven Vandeput, as requested by Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang, Het Laatste Nieuws reports.

Twice in two weeks’ time, the Ministry of Defence contracted an Airbus to fly Belgian politicians and royalty to Brazil to support the national football team during last summer’s World Cup. The first time was with the King and Queen and Ministers Reynders (MR) and De Crem (CD&V) on board, and the second time was with the same ministers and former prime minister Di Rupo (PS).

To cut costs, the ministers spent the night at embassies instead of hotels. The flights, however, cost the Belgian State as much as €250,000 for the first flight and €240,000 for the second flight, plus an additional €10,000 on hotel costs for the politicians’ entourage.