Bart De Wever: “A federal government without a Flemish majority is utterly unthinkable”

25 May 2020
Bart De Wever

“If you form a federal government without a majority in Flanders, what do you think will happen to the cynicism of the Fleming towards politics?” N-VA chairman Bart De Wever considers it unthinkable that the Vivaldi coalition will emerge after the latest poll. It shows that the extremes are once again gaining a great deal of ground. “A government that does not solve the fundamental problems - the institutional chaos and the socio-economic crisis - is doomed to fail.”

Political cynicism among the Flemish

We are in the worst economic crisis in 100 years, Bart De Wever emphasises. “The idea of governing Flanders as a beating economic heart with a federal minority and without support has become utterly unthinkable. Every party chairman must realise this.” He is referring to De Stemming, the poll by the De Standaard newspaper and the VRT broadcaster, among others. “The poll indicates cynicism about politics among Flemings. People who no longer believe in the system and support parties that want to break up that system. If we form a government now without a majority on the Flemish side, what are we heading for in 2024?”

Refederalisation: a failed marriage

Bart De Wever also questions the logic of refederalisation. We have two parts of the country with totally different agendas and public opinions. “How can refederalisation be a good idea? I simply cannot understand why people want to strengthen powers at a level that has been ungovernable for ten years. That would be a return to a failed marriage.”

Solution for fundamental problems

The mission of the next federal government is clear, according to Bart De Wever. “If you form a government, it has to be one that solves fundamental problems. This is about the democratic split in Belgium, the institutional chaos and the socio-economic crisis. Every government that doesn’t do that is ultimately doomed to fail.”

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