Correspondence Dan Alexe // In Belgium, Flemish separatist Bart De Wever becomes prime minister
More than 230 days after the elections of June 9, 2024, Belgium has finally formed its new federal government, led by Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever, who thus becomes prime minister. The man who wanted to destroy the kingdom will now be its guardian. A situation not uncommon in Belgium. The history of the kingdom is full of political ironies. Still, this one deserves a special place in the annals: at just 54 years old, Flemish Bart De Wever, the former mayor of the port of Antwerp and the separatist politician who dreamed of abolishing Belgium and the monarchy, through the independence of Flanders, became prime minister of the kingdom that houses the European institutions and NATO and, of course, will now ensure the unity of the kingdom. King Philip has just entrusted the keys to the country to the very man who, barely fifteen years ago, described the monarchy as "an institution of the old regime."
A coalition government between Flemish and French-speaking parties has been reached after eight months of negotiations, but that is far from a record for Belgium: In a political and administrative vacuum in 2010-2011, Belgium was without a government for 541 days.
The casting of the government seemed unthinkable a week ago, given the difficulties of the politicians in reconciling. Seeing the Flemish socialists of Vooruit, the only left-wing party in the coalition, ally themselves with the far-right N-VA of De Wever is a balancing act in which the Belgians are the European champions. In Belgium, political acrobatics is an art form as widespread as comics. Anything becomes possible when paralysis threatens. And indeed, Belgium, with its decentralized institutions, has this formidable art of functioning even without a government...
Bart De Wever is expected to join the European Council that is taking place in Brussels on Monday, thus immediately entering the inner circle of the heads of state and government of the European Union.
In the European Parliament, De Wever's N-VA stands alongside Giorgia Meloni's MEPs in the ECR group. Even the centrists at Renew admit that Bart De Wever's elected representatives are today quite acceptable and partners in finding solid European compromises.
René Magritte would not have disowned it: "Bart De Wever, this is not separatism."
