News

Valerie Van Peel at New Year’s reception: “We choose a society that is truly social—not one that merely sounds like it.”

11 January 2026

With heartfelt conviction, newly appointed party president Valerie Van Peel addressed the N-VA family for the very first time at the annual New Year’s reception. In the year the party celebrates its 25th anniversary, her message was clearer than ever: the N-VA is turning the power of change into …

Theo Francken: “America alone—that’s the fall of an empire”

9 January 2026

In the Terzake studio, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken offered a candid take on the state of international security—from the interception of Russian tankers off the coast of Scotland to mounting diplomatic tensions over Greenland. “The only one drinking champagne right now is Vladimir Putin …

Valerie Van Peel: “We must stop keeping people dependent”

6 January 2026

Party chair Valerie Van Peel appeared on De Afspraak on VRT Canvas to discuss recent developments in Venezuela — including the arrest of President Maduro by the United States — but the focus of the conversation was the long-awaited reform to limit unemployment benefits over time. The New Year’s Eve …

Bart De Wever: “We need to stand our ground in times like these”

1 January 2026

Following his – somewhat ironically – being named Belgian of the Year, Prime Minister Bart De Wever appeared on VTM News, where he reflected on his transformation from firebrand outsider to a pragmatic statesman who recognises the value of political compromise: “The alternative is to step aside and …

Stricter rules for social assistance to recognised refugees and other newcomers

24 December 2025

Minister for Asylum, Migration and Social Integration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is set to tie social assistance for recognised refugees to their integration efforts. Other newcomers, meanwhile, will have to wait five years before becoming eligible for social support. “Automatic access to welfare for …

Brussels guides just 5.7% of long-term jobseekers back into work

19 December 2025

Of the 3,361 Brussels residents who lost their unemployment benefits on January 1 because they had been jobless for over twenty years, only 5.7% found work between January 1 and October 31, 2025. By comparison, in Wallonia that figure had already reached 35% in September—six times higher. “This …

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