"An outright attack on all the workers of this country," is how Belgian Workers Party leader, Raoul Hedebouw, described the prospective Federal Government alliance in a speech on Saturday.
"The fight to stop them starts now," warned the Belgian Workers Party leader at his party’s ManiFiesta gathering. The leftist leader was referring to the so-called Arizona government alliance between N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit, MR and Les Engagés, who are currently in negotiations.
Following the speech, the PTB-PVDA launched a petition entitled Stop Arizona which calls for Arizona's socio-economic plans to be abandoned.
The annual event, held in Ostend, served as both a solidarity-themed festival and a meeting for PTB-PVDA members and supporters, uniting Flemish and French speakers alike. The Belgian Workers Party is the only unified party in the country, with PTB being the French acronym, and PVDA is the Dutch.
In a speech given on Saturday afternoon, the Marxist party’s chief attacked the recent policy proposals that have emerged from federal negotiations led by N-VA leader and government formator, Bart De Wever.
'Want to divide us'
The Flemish nationalist's so-called "super note", parts of which have leaked to the press but have failed to find bipartisan agreement, was dismissed by Hedebouw as a targeted attack on working class. The plans are compromising for social and democratic rights, as well as wages, working hours and current forms of solidarity.
"They want to divide and isolate us," he added, promising to "expose their plans and lies."
People attend the 'ManiFiesta' festival in Ostende, Saturday 07 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The PTB-PVDA chief took aim at the proposed 9% VAT increase on essential goods (up from 6%), rises in petrol duty, the removal of labour protection laws, and changes to salary indexation and night bonuses. "CEOs would be rubbing their hands in glee at these proposals," Hedebouw summarised.
Bart De Wever’s negotiations are due to resume next week, but are unlikely to conclude before the municipal elections on 13 October.
The party’s chairman sees the delay as a deliberate choice by the involved parties to wait until after the local elections, suggesting they recognise voter sentiment would not favour such an agreement.
The leftist party, who is in federal and regional opposition, is aiming to double its local representatives from 150 to 300, and increase its presence on local councils to over 70 across the country, particularly focusing on Brussels municipalities such as Saint-Gilles, Molenbeek or Forest.
Raoul Hedebouw delivers a speech at the 'ManiFiesta' in Ostende, Saturday 07 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
In Wallonia, beyond major cities like Liège and Charleroi, the PTB also aims to force majority change in towns such as Seraing, Herstal or Mouscron.
The PTB-PVDA chairman, committed to affordable, quality housing, is also targeting the city of Antwerp, where the popular Jos D’Haese is heading the list.
In Bart De Wever’s city, the Belgian Workers' Party came second in the June elections, behind Flemish nationalists N-VA but in front of the Vlaams Belang, marking a significant lead.
"Bart De Wever has a true challenger in next month’s local elections," asserted Raoul Hedebouw.
