Negotiations on the nuclear power stations: “Van der Straeten must be removed from this dossier”

In the VTM Nieuws television news programme, chairman Bart De Wever was unusually sharp towards the Groen party, and Tinne Van der Straeten in particular. “Van der Straeten is negotiating with Engie to fail. She must be removed from this dossier. If necessary, De Croo should remove the Groen party, and we will offer a substitute majority.”

Last week, in a letter to the De Croo government, Engie asked to co-invest in the extension of the two newest nuclear power stations. “No surprise,” says Bart De Wever. “If you only allow those nuclear power plants to be extended for ten years, the return is very doubtful. Elsewhere in the world, they are extending much longer; in the US, even to 90 years. So you must immediately extend those power stations by 20 years, then there will be a return. Otherwise, Engie, which did well because of Vivaldi, is going to ask for cash on the nail.”

The cash cow of Paris

Nevertheless, Bart De Wever is not reluctant to consider participation. “Very gladly, even. I argued against the sale of the Belgian energy sector to France by Verhofstadt’s Vivaldi government. That was privatisation the Belgian way: selling Belgian public companies to French public companies. Since then, we have been the cash cow of Paris. I would like to get away from that and take our energy sector back into our own hands. But then, of course, you must extend and negotiate in a realistic way to succeed. Tinne Van der Straeten is doing the opposite.”

“Remove Van der Straeten from this dossier”

That is why Bart De Wever thinks it would be better for Van der Straeten to be removed from this dossier. “When we negotiated in 2020, everyone agreed that those nuclear power plants urgently needed to be extended. It is two years later, and nothing has happened yet. De Croo must take over this dossier. It is the last chance. or we will lose those nuclear power plants. With all the consequences that entails for our energy supply, consumer prices and the climate. The Groen party is obsessed with dirty and expensive gas power stations for some reason. And, by the way, Van der Straeten is not telling the truth: more nuclear power plants will be needed. She is counting on imports from France, which will not be there.”

Vivaldi sell-off

Such participation will ultimately have to be done with public money and thus taxpayers’ money, while Engie can make billions of euros in profit due to the high energy prices. Ironic, but that is because the greens and liberals at the time sold the whole shop to France, says Bart De Wever. “Then you shouldn’t be shocked that we have become a real cash cow. That is why it is best to take over those companies again.”

Substitute majority

The situation is becoming dire, says Bart De Wever. “We are facing a huge energy crisis, also because of the war in Ukraine. The prices are going through the roof. Our strategic autonomy is also crucial; we must be able to provide for our own energy production. We have an energy-hungry industry sector, even the highest in Europe. But we cannot yet say whether the light will go on in 2025 or 2026. That is surely hallucinatory.” Bart De Wever therefore comes up with a remarkable proposal: “If necessary, De Croo should remove the Groen party from the government. We are always ready to provide a substitute majority without asking for anything in return. I want to sign for that tomorrow.”

Revolution

It would therefore be better in the long term if all the powers relating to energy were transferred to Flanders. “That is already largely the case, except for offshore and nuclear energy. That is where it goes wrong. But then you have to commit a revolution: the Flemish Parliament that takes a power away from Belgium. I would love to, but I doubt whether a majority can be found for that.”