Flemish nationalists want to be alternative to continuation of current federal government

At an electoral congress in Ghent on Sunday, the Flemish nationalist party N-VA profiled itself as an alternative to a continuation of the current Belgian federal government. Party leader Bart De Wever also reiterated that he is a candidate for prime minister. 

N-VA has been going to war against the federal government for the entire legislature. During a party congress on Sunday, marking the start of the election campaign, De Wever reiterated that the coalition government let the budget go deep into the red on the back of Flanders. In particular, he referred to debts that have increased sharply, while taxes in Belgium are among the highest. 

De Wever made it clear that voting in the June elections for current coalition parties or for extreme parties such as Vlaams Belang and PVDA paves the way for a continuation of the same government. Only voting for N-VA can ensure a paradigm shift, he said. He also expressed his ambition to become the next prime minister.

Furthermore, other political parties should not look to N-VA for the formation of the Flemish government if they want to continue the current government at the federal level without a Flemish majority. “We are not going to cooperate with parties that are bankrupting the country and squeezing out the Flemish people," he said. 

^{N-VA leader Bart De Wever delivers a speech at the electoral congress of Flemish nationalist party N-VA, 28 April 2024 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}