Open Vld President Eva De Bleeker has formed a group of ten party figures, including former Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, to help lead the Flemish liberals.
Her decision comes amid increasing pressure on her leadership, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
On Tuesday evening, Eva De Bleeker requested a weekly meeting with the group, labelled the 'G10.'
The group also includes former presidents Bart Somers and Egbert Lachaert, former State Secretary Alexia Bertrand, former Senate President Stephanie D’Hose, and members Frédéric De Gucht, Jasper Pillen, Steven Coenegrachts, Kjell Vander Elst, and Marianne Verhaert.
De Bleeker insists that the formation of the G10 is not linked to the party’s poll results at a recent poll that showed only 6% voter support.
She explained that while Open Vld was in government, it was traditional to have a G8 or G9 composed of ministers and state secretaries.
“Now that we have no ministers, we need to re-establish this group to test ideas in a smaller circle,” she said, noting that the organisation needs restructuring with fewer resources.
Within the party, the composition of the consultative body is described as “organic” and adaptable to different issues and current events.
Federal MP Kjell Vander Elst, speaking on Radio 1’s De Ochtend programme, reiterated that such a body is not new.
He described the latest poll results as “dramatic” but expressed confidence in De Bleeker’s leadership.
“We all need to pull together,” he stressed.
