Belgian national holiday: de Wever refuses to say “long live Belgium”

Flemish nationalist Bart de Wever, who attended the Belgian national holiday ceremonies on Monday as Prime Minister on Monday, caused an uproar. “You know my institutional convictions which are unchanged but I do my duty,” he replied to RTL Belgium, Who asked him if it made him “pleasure” to take part in this party.

“Could you say, today, a national day: long live Belgium?”, Chained the journalist. Bart de Wever replied in the negative: “I respect everyone’s convictions, but it is necessary to respect mine too, and I will not ridicule myself, for anyone”. Relaunched on the “ridiculous” of this question, Prime Minister N-VA retorted: “No, but the way of asking me here at the moment and in such a way, that’s ridiculous. And I don’t ridicule myself for anyone ”.

A little earlier in the day, the Minister of Defense, Théo Francken, had also been questioned about his presence at the national holiday for a Flemish nationalist. “I do my job,” he replied. I am Minister of Defense. National Defense. I am professional ”.

And at the request of RTL Belgium To make him say “Long live Belgium”, he replied “Long live the defense”, before explained: “I am a Flemish nationalist, ok? I am elected. Belgium is the country where I am elected. So, I do my job, my profession, like the Prime Minister, and I try to do my best. ”

In response, MEP Elio Di Rupo (PS) described the refusal of the Minister of Defense “very serious fault”. “Attached to the unity of our country, I am scandalized by these words which undermine our national cohesion,” writes the former Prime Minister (2011-2014). Sophie Rohonhihi, president of the Amaranth Party (fifth French -speaking political force in Belgium), believes that the two Flemish nationalists are “unworthy of their function”.