Belgium's Queen Fabiola In Foundation Controversy

Started by cinrit, January 10, 2013, 11:38:46 AM

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cinrit

January 10, 2013, 11:38:46 AM
QuoteQueen Fabiola of Belgium, widow of King Baudouin, was at the centre of an outcry Wednesday over her creation of a foundation to help her nephews and nieces and Catholic charities.

Set up in September by the frail 84-year-old, widowed two decades ago, her Fons Pereos foundation was a bid "in reality to enable the queen to settle her inheritance problems," press reports said.

Newspapers under the Sudpresse media group said that Fabiola, who was born in Spain and has no children, hoped to avoid her young relatives paying Belgium's 70 percent inheritance tax.

Belgium's Queen Fabiola in foundation controversy < Belgian news | Expatica Belgium 

Cindy
Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a unicorn.  Then always be a unicorn.

Windsor

#3
January 11, 2013, 12:13:32 PM
It is interesting how much Queen Fabiola gets from the government, and in return she carries out very little public duties.  :unsure:

cinrit

#4
January 11, 2013, 01:12:18 PM
I don't know much about her, but she's pretty feeble, isn't she?  And wasn't there some sort of fear three or four years ago, where there were rumors of a plot to kill her, or someone was sending threats to kill her?

Cindy
Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a unicorn.  Then always be a unicorn.

amabel

#5
January 11, 2013, 03:11:14 PM
Poor woman she's over 80.  What should she be expected to do?  Not everyone has the vitality of Eliz II or the QM

cinrit

#6
January 12, 2013, 12:39:58 PM
QuoteBelgian monarch Rocked by Queen Fabiola Tax Row

Queen Fabiola, 84, who has been paid an annual public stipend of over £1 million since the death of King Baudouin in 1993, has been accused of avoiding death duties of 70 per cent by using a foundation to channel funds to her relatives.

Belgium like other eurozone countries is implementing deep cuts to public spending and the country's royals have been criticised for continuing to enjoy their publicly subsidised lavish lifestyles at a time of national austerity.

Elio Di Rupo, Belgium's Socialist Prime Minister, has been forced to condemn the Queen's arrangements, which are completely legal, just days after defending the political role of the monarchy as a bulwark against Flemish separatists.

"Because of the position of Queen Fabiola and the stipend annually provided by parliament, this fund causes ethical problems," he said.

Belgian monarchy rocked by Queen Fabiola tax row - Telegraph 

Cindy
Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a unicorn.  Then always be a unicorn.

amabel

#7
January 12, 2013, 01:02:00 PM
Mmm that does seem quite a generous allowance for a retired elderly lady. 

cinrit

#9
January 14, 2013, 03:36:21 PM
QuoteBelgium's Elderly Dowager Queen Fabiola Has Annual Allowance Cut

Belgium's elderly Dowager Queen Fabiola is to have her annual allowance cut by over £400,000 after a row over her avoidance of the country's inheritance taxes.

The Belgian government has moved this weekend to ensure "that Queen Fabiola's stipend cannot be greater than that of Prince Philippe", the Belgian heir to the throne.

The cut will reduce the £1.2 million annual allowance of Queen Fabiola, the widow of King Baudouin who died in 1993, by a third.

Elio Di Rupo, the Belgian Prime Minister, announced the cut which "will be effective right from 2013" as part of a wider review and reduction to the cost of the Belgian Royal Family.

Belgium's elderly Dowager Queen Fabiola has annual allowance cut - Telegraph 

Cindy
Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a unicorn.  Then always be a unicorn.

Windsor

#10
January 15, 2013, 04:56:23 PM
Seems fair. Especially after that very crappy move on her part to set up that foundation.

cinrit

#13
January 26, 2013, 01:10:39 PM
QuoteAgeing Belgian Queen Reverses Controversial Tax Move

Queen Fabiola of Belgium, the widow of King Baudouin, backed down Friday over a controversial foundation that critics said was set up to avoid punitive inheritance taxes.

The 84-year-old said in a statement issued by her lawyer that she had dissolved a charitable vehicle founded in September that allowed her to pass on monies to Spanish nephews.

The emergence of the plan a few weeks ago provoked rare outrage in political and media circles.

Ageing Belgian Queen reverses controversial tax move < Belgian news | Expatica Belgium 

Cindy
Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a unicorn.  Then always be a unicorn.
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