Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalists, hopes to explore a new type of cabinet format following the federal elections in June.
As De Wever envisions, this cabinet would function with a streamlined team focusing primarily on the budget and socio-economic reforms.
During a packed gathering at the Nekkerhal complex in Mechelen on Saturday, which saw over 5,000 attendees, De Wever did not hide his intention.
Push for the top of the polls on June 9
He hopes to push his party, the N-VA, to the top of the polls on June 9, in order to secure leverage during post-election negotiations at both Flemish and federal levels.
Current polls however place his party behind the far-right Vlaams Belang.
“We’re going to turn this country around, and to do that the N-VA must lead in Flanders. If we succeed, if we receive this trust, I intend to seize control,” he said at the rally.
According to De Wever, only a strong N-VA can “earn respect for the Flemish at the federal scale.”
De Wever added that the Vivaldi coalition has “hit rock bottom” and is promoting policies “counter to the interests” of the northern region.
“Never again. Never another government without a Flemish majority, no prime minister who sacrifices Flanders’ prosperity for their own career,” De Wever said.
Bart De Wever also criticised the French-speaking socialists. “As long there’s a euro in Flemish savings accounts, the PS will cling to the status quo.”
