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

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 concrete action. “We’re choosing a society that’s genuinely social, not just one that pays lip service to the word,” declared a determined Valerie Van Peel.

Finally, things are moving

After years of political gridlock under the previous federal government, the tide is finally turning. Valerie highlighted how N-VA-led governments at both regional and federal levels have rolled up their sleeves to clean up the mess left behind by the Vivaldi coalition. The challenges were enormous—from a derailed budget to unsustainable levels of migration—but the N-VA stepped up and took responsibility.

“Thanks to the N-VA, things are finally moving forward again,” Valerie said with energy. “We’re delivering reforms that were deemed impossible for decades. We reward people who work, crack down on abuse in the welfare system, and support those who genuinely need it. In doing so, we’re not only saving our prosperity—we’re restoring hope to society.”

Steady hands in the storm

While the world around us is rocked by international conflict, Valerie is proud that the N-VA is charting the course. “The entire country should be grateful that we’re providing the best captains, because we’re navigating through a global storm,” she said.

With Bart De Wever as prime minister, Belgium has a leader who dares to think long-term. “The De Wever government is the most ambitious and courageous federal government of this century, driven by an unstoppable force for change.”

Valerie didn’t hold back when addressing the past: “We’re done with systems that keep people small, that leave the unemployed to fend for themselves for 20 years. We’re finally putting an end to the antisocial model pushed by the PS.”

Instead, the N-VA is building a social system that feels fair and just—for everyone.

Historic steps forward

While a full state reform is still pending—due to the lack of a two-thirds majority—key institutional changes are already underway. “Visible steps, like abolishing the Belgian Senate and ending the party subsidies that went with it. Tangible steps, like limiting unemployment benefits in time and activating the long-term sick. This is where major financial Transfers The money flows from Flanders to Brussels and Wallonia are called transfers. The transfers from the federal budget, the Financing Law and social security amount to between 6 and 7 billion euros per year, and 11 billion euros if debt repayments are included. The size of the transfers is always contested by the French-speaking side or they are just referred to as normal solidarity contributions. A study by Vives (KU Leuven) revealed that the transfers did not serve solidarity, but had a paralysing effect on the growth of both the Walloon and Flemish economies. transfers are stopped. This is where they’re finally being cut off!”

Change is also visible in the fields of security and migration. Under the leadership of Theo Francken, Belgium’s defence is finally being rebuilt after decades of neglect—because “without security, there is nothing.”
And thanks to Anneleen Van Bossuyt, migration is once again under control: “For the first time in years, asylum applications are dropping sharply.”

Eyes on the horizon

Valerie closed her speech with a heartfelt call for resilience. Though the reforms require effort, the goal is crystal clear: “We’re making the system fairer and more sustainable—so it can continue to exist for generations to come.”

“We have to row against the wind right now to steer our ship back into safe waters,” she concluded. “So that one day, we can all enjoy the calm horizon—and tell our children: I helped make this happen.”

Together with its coalition partners—whom Valerie warmly thanked for their courage—the N-VA continues to fight for a prosperous, secure and proud Flanders.