DéFI faces turmoil amid reports of financial instability

The francophone political party DéFI is grappling with financial and political upheaval following its poor showing in the June elections, internal strife and recent allegations of insolvency. Reports from the Court of Audit, cited by media outlets VRT and Sudpresse, suggest the party is on the verge of bankruptcy, a claim DéFI denies.

In an address to the parliamentary commission on political party finances, a corporate auditor raised concerns about the solvency of a political party. Noting a debt burden reportedly amounting to 70 per cent of its assets, the auditor expressed the need for a court-mandated recovery plan.

While the party in question was not named, VRT and Sudpresse identified DéFI as the subject of the report. 

'False information'

However, DéFI - a centrist party known for defending French-speakers' interests in and near the Brussels region - has strongly denied these claims, dismissing them as “false information”, and announced that it was considering filing a complaint for defamation.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, party president Sophie Rohonyi accused media outlets of drawing “hasty and unverified conclusions” based on the auditor’s remarks. 

She said that while the party’s financial situation was challenging, it was not critical. “Drastic savings measures were implemented as early as July 2024,” she said. She added that DéFI had followed all legal procedures and remained solvent, with substantial regular income and assets.

Internal divisions

The crisis comes at a time when DéFI is already reeling from significant internal divisions. Former party leader Olivier Maingain resigned in December 2024, citing disagreements with Rohonyi over the party’s direction and its handling of Brussels’ government negotiations.

Maingain accused Rohonyi of abandoning the party’s core principle of defending Brussels’ autonomy by supporting liberal party MR’s proposal to involve national party leaders in resolving local governance stalemates.

Maingain’s departure has compounded DéFI’s woes, with the ex-leader announcing plans to launch a new political movement advocating for a “strong, independent voice” for Brussels. His exit has exposed fractures within the party and threatens to erode its electoral base further. 

Rohonyi, however, welcomed his departure, accusing him of sabotaging DéFI from within.

"DéFI is far from finished. We are in the process of refounding our movement"

Despite DéFI’s assurances of stability, questions remain over its ability to navigate this turbulent period. The party faces a serious battle to recover its financial footing, whether it is insolvent or not, and restore internal unity, especially as Maingain’s new movement could further fragment its support base.

DéFI has called for an inquiry into what it perceives as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party, arguing that the media’s identification of it as the struggling party has unfairly tarnished its reputation. 

Rohonyi concluded the party’s statement with a defiant message: “DéFI is far from finished. We are in the process of refounding our movement.”

^{DéFI party leader Sophie Rohonyi © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}