As the Flemish rightwing N-VA won the Flemish and federal elections, party leader Bart De Wever is playing a major role in forming two of Belgium's next governments. But can a Flemish nationalist also become Prime Minister?
N-VA held up well in Flanders and remains the largest party in the region after the elections, although polls had for months predicted that Vlaams Belang would win. After he said that Flanders clearly chose prosperity and autonomy in his victory speech, the crowd only chanted one thing: "Our Bart, Prime Minister!"
In the run-up to the election, De Wever himself made it clear that it was his ambition to become Belgium's next Prime Minister – something he also repeated after N-VA's victory.
But how likely is it that someone who wants to strip federal powers would head Belgium's next Federal Government?
'Statesman'
One of Belgium's unwritten political rules states that the Prime Minister should be from the biggest party in the majority. If the envisaged coalition between N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit, MR and Les Engagés goes ahead as experts expect, this means the role would go to an N-VA politician.
While this does not necessarily have to be De Wever, it does not seem as if other candidates are presenting themselves. Additionally, other important N-VA politicians have already voiced their support for De Wever as leader of the country.
"If I look at who has all been prime minister in our history, I am sure that Bart will do it a thousand times better," Zuhal Demir, N-VA's outgoing Flemish Environment and Justice Minister, told De Morgen. "I see in him a statesman who will put the budget in order and reform the country without much fuss."
N-VA leader Bart De Wever delivers a speech at the post-election meeting. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
While it remains to be seen how the government formation will go, Demir "lives in the hope that Bart will become Prime Minister."
For N-VA party colleague Theo Francken, De Wever has "all the qualities" to be a strong Prime Minister. "He has a brilliant mind, his humour is superior. He also speaks very good French. People are going to love Prime Minister De Wever, even in Wallonia. They just have to get to know him."
De Wever has passed on his duty of forming the Flemish Government to "formator" Matthias Diependaele (who is therefore first in line to become Flemish Minister-President), so the N-VA leader is free to focus on the formation at the federal level.
Controversial candidate
Last Wednesday, King Philippe extended De Wever's assignment as federal "informator" by another week, meaning he will get extra time to hold consultations with fellow party leaders. During those consultations, De Wever will be accompanied by outgoing Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon, who also has experience at the federal level.
"I am very motivated to make the federal story a success as Bart's right-hand man," Jambon said. He added that he assumed that once the talks are complete, De Wever would become "formator" of the Federal Government – who is traditionally the most likely candidate to become Prime Minister.
So while De Wever has all the right cards to become Prime Minister, it remains a somewhat controversial move to appoint a Flemish nationalist as the leader of the country he wants to split up.
N-VA leader Bart De Wever in front of N-VA's Steven Vandeput, Flemish Minister of Environment, Energy, Tourism and Justice Zuhal Demir, Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon and Flemish Minister of Education and Animal Welfare and Sports Ben Weyts. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
Former Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau said on television that while he believed De Wever would make an "excellent" Prime Minister "in terms of intellect," he added that it would make "absolutely no sense" for someone who wants to split the country to lead it.
On the other side of the language border, the same sentiment reigns. Les Engagés leader Maxime Prévot is not against De Wever as a person, but told De Morgen that it could be assumed that the leader of the country "respects the entire population" and "respects his country, loves it, promotes it."
"Does this description apply to someone like Bart De Wever? He is the leader of the biggest party in the Kingdom, that's for sure. But right now it is difficult for many people in the south to see this future," he added. "So if De Wever wants to become Prime Minister, he must show in the coming weeks that he is not hostile to francophones or the country."
