“We need to demonstrate our Flemish resilience now.”

“We’re heading for the worst crisis since the Great Depression of 1929.” In the VTM television news programme on Sunday, N-VA chairman Bart De Wever called for Flemish resilience to overcome the coronavirus crisis. “Flanders has been through worse things over the centuries. We have always overcome them.”

Rolling up our sleeves

According to chairman Bart De Wever, Flemish resilience will be the slogan for the next two years. “If we are not careful and restart, quite a few companies will never open again. Massive unemployment and a lower standard of living. That will also lead to a great many healthy life years being lost. We need to demonstrate our resilience now. We really must set about rolling up our sleeves.”

Much is possible

Bart De Wever believes that Flanders is capable of coming out of the coronavirus crisis with a lot of vigour. “I believe we are capable of doing that. We can come out of this dip relying on innovation and continued hard work. Such a crisis makes a lot possible; it is also an opportunity. Much is now possible to which people were not open in the past. That’s how we will get through this, and it doesn’t have to turn into a tragedy. We have been through worse things in Flanders over the centuries. We have always overcome them.”

Confederal reform

The N-VA Chairman reiterated his willingness to negotiate a fully-mandated federal government with the PS. “I can’t imagine that people in Wallonia don’t see that this country is institutionally crippled. There is a need for a major agreement to make this country governable. Let’s use this coronavirus year to make a new Belgium 2.0 through a confederal reform.”