IESET.
Movements·belgium_michel_mr_coalition_2014_2019

Michel MR-led Suédoise centre-right coalition 2014-2019

BEL·20142019·MR + N-VA + CD&V + Open Vld ('Suédoise' — yellow+blue, first without francophone socialists since 1988)
Leaders: Charles Michel (PM, MR; francophone in N-VA-dominated coalition) · Johan Van Overtveldt (N-VA, Finance Minister) · Kris Peeters (CD&V, Economy and Employment)
positionsaustrianchicago_monetarisminstitutionalismclassical_liberalordoliberalempirical_pragmatistnew_keynesiansocial_democraticdemocratic_socialistdevelopmentalismeco_socialistmarxianmarxist_leninistpost_keynesian

Doctrine — stated goals and content

First federal government in a generation excluding French-speaking socialists (PS/cdH) — 'Suédoise' centre-right coalition with flemish-nationalist N-VA as largest party. Economic school: centre-right supply-side with Flemish- nationalist partner accepting N-VA tempering of communitarian demands in exchange for labour-market and tax-shift reform. Signature actions: Tax Shift (2015-2019) progressively cutting employer SSCs from 32.4% to 25% and raising consumption/environmental taxes and capital-income taxation; pension-age rise to 67 by 2030; 'index jump' (indexsprong) freezing wage-indexation for one cycle (Apr 2015); statutory pension-age to 67 legislated 2015; CETA ratification nearly blocked by Wallonia (Oct 2016 — Paul Magnette's veto eventually withdrawn); corporate-tax rate cut from 33.99% to 25% phased 2018-2020. N-VA exited Dec 2018 over Marrakech migration compact; Michel resigned Dec 2018, governed as caretaker until May 2019 election. Left-right: centre-right. Popularity: N-VA 32.4% Flemish vote 2014; 2019 election N-VA lost ground to far-right Vlaams Belang (18.5%); coalition unable to re-form. Coherence: moderate-high on economic programme; broke on migration and identity politics.

Policy-content fingerprint — how the framework codes this movement on its axes

tax corporate
fiscal.tax_corporate
Statutory and effective corporate tax rates, treatment of depreciation, and international competitiveness.
decreased · moderate
lower corporate tax burden
Corporate rate 33.99% → 25% phased 2018-2020; SME rate to 20% on first €100k.
labour market flexibility
regulatory.labour_market_flexibility
Ease of hiring/firing, collective-bargaining scope, minimum wage rigidity, temporary/permanent contract regulation.
increased · moderate
more flexible (easier hiring/firing, less rigid bargaining)
Index jump, flexi-jobs expansion, employer-SSC cuts.
transfer expansion
fiscal.transfer_expansion
Size of cash and near-cash transfer programmes (unemployment benefits, means-tested assistance, universal child benefits). Architecturally distinct from forced-saving schemes — see condition welfare_architecture.
decreased · moderate
smaller transfer footprint
Pension age 65→67; unemployment activation tightened.
trade openness
regulatory.trade_openness
Trade policy openness — tariffs, non-tariff barriers, FTAs, industrial protection.
increased · weak
more open trade
CETA ratified after Wallonia accommodation.

Policies enacted

Schools of thought aligned or opposed

aligned
austrian
derived: score=+1.00, overlap=4 axes vs austrian profile (mechanical backfill v1)
aligned
chicago_monetarism
derived: score=+0.98, overlap=4 axes vs chicago_monetarism profile (mechanical backfill v1)
partial
institutionalism
derived: score=+0.18, overlap=4 axes vs institutionalism profile (mechanical backfill v1)
aligned
classical_liberal
derived: score=+0.96, overlap=4 axes vs classical_liberal profile (mechanical backfill v1)
aligned
ordoliberal
derived: score=+0.91, overlap=4 axes vs ordoliberal profile (mechanical backfill v1)
partial
empirical_pragmatist
derived: score=+0.38, overlap=4 axes vs empirical_pragmatist profile (mechanical backfill v1)
partial
new_keynesian
derived: score=-0.40, overlap=4 axes vs new_keynesian profile (mechanical backfill v1)
partial
social_democratic
derived: score=-0.39, overlap=4 axes vs social_democratic profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
democratic_socialist
derived: score=-0.98, overlap=4 axes vs democratic_socialist profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
developmentalism
derived: score=-0.45, overlap=4 axes vs developmentalism profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
eco_socialist
derived: score=-0.96, overlap=4 axes vs ecological profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
marxian
derived: score=-0.96, overlap=3 axes vs marxian profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
marxist_leninist
derived: score=-1.00, overlap=2 axes vs marxist_leninist profile (mechanical backfill v1)
opposed
post_keynesian
derived: score=-0.95, overlap=4 axes vs post_keynesian profile (mechanical backfill v1)

References