During his speech for the national holiday, Belgium's King Philippe expressed his support for Ukraine, stressed that the Federal Government should not let itself be blackmailed by Russia, and pleaded for cohesion and solidarity to get through these difficult times.
On the occasion of Belgium's national holiday on 21 July, King Philippe stressed that thanks to the country's societal model, growth is gradually coming into view now that normal life has mostly restarted after the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The fight against the pandemic has proven that we also demonstrate social cohesion in times of crisis," he said. "This requires cooperation between our institutions, between all the actors involved, and a generally accepted connecting story."
"The fact that we have been able to manage a crisis like the pandemic, within our democratic system, is mainly due to our social cohesion," King Philippe stressed.
'War is omnipresent'
He added that with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the world has entered a new era in history. "The war, resulting in unbearable suffering, is unfortunately omnipresent again, very close to home. The Ukrainians fight and die to save their country, but also for democracy."
"We will not let the blackmail of a nuclear power tear us apart to break our solidarity with Ukraine," the King emphasised, adding that Belgium will continue to support the Ukrainian people.
Still, he said that the consequences of the war can already be felt across the world, including in Belgium. "The sharp rise in inflations threatens to undermine our economy, but also our society. Many of our fellow citizens are having a hard time due to the current price increases, especially low-income households, single-parent families and people living on a replacement income."
It must "absolutely" be prevented that the gap between the different layers of the population widens even further, according to King Philippe. "Our model of society, based on inclusion and solidarity, can absorb these new shocks. But that will not happen by itself. High energy costs will make difficult choices inevitable."
However, the increasingly aggressive discourse in society, which the King called "a revival of authoritarian regimes and reflexes, in which only self-interest comes first, to the detriment of the others."
He wants to meet those challenges with "unshakable faith in democracy, by promoting cohesion and inclusion, by not fueling what could divide us, by daring to go for more nuance and benevolence."
King Philippe referred to the cohesion within the European Union, which has made it possible to seek joint solutions in the fields of health, defence, energy and the reception of refugees, he said. "That cohesion is fundamental to avoid widening inequalities between Member States to the detriment of the population."
In the same vein, he also called on people not to lose sight of the worldwide fight against global warming. "And in this regard, let us hope that the price increase of fossil fuels will contribute to an acceleration of the energy transition."
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Lastly, he talked about the recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR), where he expressed his "deepest regret" for the cruelties of the colonial past, in a long-awaited speech in front of the Congolese Parliament.
"We have been able to turn an important page," King Philippe said now. "By looking at our common past in a serene way, we can build the future together."
"We continue to face many challenges. But if we stay on track, if we maintain our cohesion, we can secure our future," he concluded. "The Queen and I wish you a beautiful national holiday and a nice summer. Long live Belgium!"
The King's full speech can be read and viewed here in French, Dutch and German.
