Bart De Wever, the federal formator and leader of N-VA, stated on Saturday evening that he has no intention of "sitting powerlessly as the next captain of the Titanic" when he becomes Belgian Prime Minister.
Speaking at his party's annual New Year’s speech in front of 5,000 supporters at the Nekkerhal in Mechelen, De Wever said that N-VA are willing to take on federal responsibility and lead the next Belgian Government "if what is necessary is truly done."
More concretely, he stated that he would take the PM role if there is "community progress" and "if the further development of Flanders' autonomy is not a taboo."
'Country doing poorly'
In his speech, De Wever discussed the federal negotiations he has been leading for about six months, acknowledging the difficulties, and pouring doubt over the future of federal Belgium.
"I won’t hide the reality… This country is doing very poorly. Decisive measures are needed to ensure our prosperity in the short and long term. I prefer to be honest: the hurdle we must overcome is immense," he admitted.
He anticipated potential internal criticism. "Some of you might think: why do we have to do it?" he acknowledged, but quoted Abraham Lincoln: "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
As well as progress in community matters, De Wever also stressed that N-VA is aiming to "seriously clean up" public finances and enforce a stricter immigration policy.
N-VA ministers and party members are pictured on stage during the traditional new year's reception of Flemish nationalist party N-VA, in Mechelen, Saturday 11 January 2025. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
"In short: we are more than willing to take responsibility. Because that's what we owe to ourselves and to future generations. For a prosperous Flanders and... for a prosperous Wallonia," he stated.
Three-quarters of De Wever’s speech during the festive evening addressed the party’s two electoral victories over the past year, and he paid special tribute to N-VA ministers in the Flemish government and notably, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, the N-VA leader in Ghent.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, De Wever promised that, under the Arizona government, taxes will not increase. He emphasised his intent to boost business competitiveness and workers’ purchasing power.
He refrained from commenting on whether the chances of success for the federal coalition were now higher than the 50% he mentioned a few weeks ago.
However, he noted that negotiators "are further along" than a few weeks ago, with all measures already on the table. "The buffet is there; it’s a matter of determining portions," he explained.
Bouchez attached to Belgium
On Sunday, MR leader and key Arizona coalition partner, Georges-Louis Bouchez, pushed back against De Wever's comments, stating that he is not eager for a discussion on more autonomy for Belgian regions.
While he agrees on the need for an efficient functioning of the state, reopening community autonomy "is not really compatible with a clean-up of almost 20 billion [in public finances]," he said. For Bouchez, public spending cuts must take priority, which would then lead into running the state more "efficiently".
MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez arrives for a meeting of the members of a possible coalition for the Federal Government on Monday 06 January 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
He believes reopening discussions on linguistic community autonomy could derail the new coalition's planned socio-economic reforms. "I am attached to Belgium, which is federal today. Splitting for the sake of splitting serves no one," the MR leader concluded.
Les Engagés leader Maxime Prévot is more or less on the same line. As far as Prévot is concerned, there will be no major state reform in the next legislature either. Nor can there be, because the Arizona parties do not have a two-thirds majority, he says.
At the same time, the centrist politician does not think the issue can derail the formation. "That N-VA cites institutional aims is not surprising. The opposite would have been strange." However, according to Prévot, De Wever is speaking of "community progress" in moderate terms, which is completely different from "a major state reform."
He adds that not all institutional exercises are necessarily to the detriment of the French-speakers, Prévot adds. "We are far from the optimal functioning of the state. And so we need to be able to organise it more efficiently, without fear."
The federal formator De Wever and the negotiating Arizona party leaders meet on Sunday from 14:00 to 22:00 to discuss the fiscal aspects of the socio-economic plan.
Despite the sense of urgency, government negotiations had been paused on Saturday for N-VA's New Year's party congress to take place.
