The French-speaking centrist party Démocrate Fédéraliste Indépendant (DéFI) has categorically denied reports that it is on the brink of bankruptcy. It is considering filing a complaint against the claims.
Several Belgian media reported on Wednesday that DéFi – the party founded in the 1960s to defend the interests of Francophones in Brussels – is virtually bankrupt.
The Court of Audit examined the financial situation of Belgian parties after the elections and informed the Federal Parliament that one party was in dire straits. The company auditor said the political group in question was no longer solvent, taking into account the endowment given since 9 June and the burdens the party has. The problem was referred to the company court, which demanded a recovery plan.
VRT NWS and Sudinfo reported that the party in question is DéFi, based on information from several sources. Défi suffered a heavy electoral defeat in the June elections and now has just one seat in the 150-member Federal Parliament. Before the election it had two. In Belgium, fewer seats mean fewer party allocations.
How bad is it?
Défi's president Sophie Rohonyi criticised the claims on Thursday morning, labelling them a deliberate attempt to "destabilise the party during a challenging time".
The party is considering filing a complaint about the spread of "false information" that could harm its reputation. It argued that VRT NWS and Sudinfo concluded the Court was referring to them without verifying the information.
DéFI did acknowledge that its financial situation has been complicated following the latest election results. However Rohonyi gave assurances that the situation is not critical, as stringent cost-saving measures were implemented in July 2024. The party’s financial auditor also dismissed the claims, adding that DéFI followed all required procedures.
