Council of State rebukes government over limiting birth allowance to first child

The Council of State criticizes the Flemish government's plan to limit the initial payment of the Growth Package to only the firstborn child, stating it violates constitutional equality principles. This measure, part of budget cuts, eliminates the 1,310 euro payment for second children, raising legal concerns. Gwendolyn Rutten argues that child benefits are a right for all children, warning of potential legal issues. The Council's advice suggests the government's approach is unconstitutional, prompting calls for the removal of this discriminatory measure. Rutten claims this could jeopardize the planned savings of 50 million euros annually, further impacting the budget.