Bart de Wever refuses to say “long live Belgium”

Supposed to be a moment of cohesion. However. Consequently, the Belgian national holiday has taken the Flemish nationalist accent when Prime Minister Bart de Wever and his Minister of Defense Theo Francken have both refused to pronounce the formula “long live Belgium”. Moreover, This sequence, captured by the cameras of the private RTL-TVI channel, caused a wave of indignation among Francophones.

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“I’m. For example, not going to ridicule myself. Furthermore, For anyone, ”said Bart de Wever in reference to his Flemish nationalist ideals. Consequently, He added: “Respect my political convictions”. Therefore, The Prime Minister limited his participation in official ceremonies in the bare minimum: the Te Deum. For example, the military parade, deliberately ignoring bart de wever refuses say new popular festival and fireworks.

His Minister of Defense, Theo Francken, adopted a similar line. Similarly, bart de wever refuses say In turn, he responded in a diverted way: “Long live the defense”. Moreover, He justified his position by explaining that he was doing his work in a professional manner while assuming his. In addition, convictions as a Flemish nationalist. Consequently, In other words. Moreover. In addition, the winners of the election of June 9, 2024 do the job that the voter has entrusted to them, but there is no question for them to celebrate this Belgium which they have long fought before wanting to make it a confederal state.

The N-VA, the Flemish Nationalist Party that Bart de Wever, has been republican, hitherto. Nevertheless, It advocates a “humanitarian nationalism of the 21st century”. However, Its statutes specify that “the N-VA defends the Flemish general interest. Similarly, bart de wever refuses say new In its quest for better governance. Similarly. Furthermore, more democracy, the N-VA logically chooses the independent Republic of Flanders, a member state of a democratic bart de wever refuses say European Union. Therefore, ” In fact, the advent of such a republic could not be done without destroying the current Belgian state.

Outcry on the French -speaking side

This attitude sparked an avalanche of criticism on the French -speaking side. For example. Meanwhile, RTL-TVI listeners have expressed their anger, describing the attitude of the two political leaders as “unacceptable” and “shame for Belgium”. Similarly, Some have claimed that they return their salary. believing that they represent the whole country and no longer just a region.

Former Prime Minister bart de wever refuses say new Elio Di Rupo was particularly vehement on the social network X:. “It is a very serious fault. The Minister of Defense flouted all the dignity of the federal government. “said the French bart de wever refuses say -speaking socialist. denouncing a camouflet to national unity and recalling that nationalisms have historically led to war. The president of the Social-liberal Party Défi. Sophie Rohonyi. described this attitude as “provocation”, considering that it is “ridiculous to call Francken and Wever Minister and Prime Minister, they are unworthy”.

Faced with this storm. Theo Francken reacted with detachment on Sunday evening, denouncing criticisms of the extreme right and the French -speaking left. “Nothing new under the sun. ” he wrote. adding that he would continue to work “imperturbably” for a reinforced defense and the prosperity of Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

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This incident inevitably recalls another controversy in 2007. involving the Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme. On July 21 of that year. in the midst of a Belgian institutional crisis. the government’s trainer had caused an uproar bart de wever refuses say by singing the Marseillaise instead of the Brabançonne. This blunder (or this provocation). filmed live. had fueled community tensions and reinforced the image of a poorly prepared Flemish leader to represent the whole of Belgium. Despite the scandal, Leterme had finally become Prime Minister in March 2008.

The agreement of summer to the background

Ironically. the nationalist rant of the N-VA barons broke out the same day that the Wever government announced its “summer agreement”. a set of major reforms affecting pensions, taxation, the labor market and health.

History will remember that even after having reached this “historic” agreement between. the components of his government. Bart de Wever has not deviated from his line. Throughout the election campaign bart de wever refuses say of spring 2024. he repeated that his federal commitment as a future Prime Minister would be motivated by the desire to preserve Flanders from the degling to which the left. the previous government have supposedly led. From there to celebrate Belgium, there is obviously a nuance.

In an interview with the French -speaking daily The eveningBart de Wever also relativizes the symbolic character. of the announcement of his agreement on a national day: “We could have done so on July 11 (note:. the feast of the Flemish community). It is not the day of the agreement that matters, it is the bart de wever refuses say new result ”.

“A drache of antisocial measures”

The Prime Minister will have to explain Thursday before the Interior Commission. the opposition having claimed clarifications on the new reform train which promises to weigh heavily on the lives of. the Belgians. bart de wever refuses say The left opposition is standing wind. Additionally, The Communist PTB denounces “the greatest social decline in the last forty years in terms of labor law”. while Ecolo is concerned about the “brutality” of the measures. The PS speaks of a “Drache (Editor’s note: a downpour) of anti -social measures” particularly affecting workers. pensioners and middle classes.

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As the editorialist of Eveningthese reforms actually mark an unprecedented pace: limitation of unemployment to two years maximum. penalty penalty penalizing workers who anticipate retirement age, liberalization of night work. If these bart de wever refuses say new advances can delight by their reforming ambition. several clues are raising fears of “the absence of real social safeguards”. Unemployment reform is likely to explode precariousness, that of pensions particularly sanctions women and careers interrupted. Conversely. the country is rearmed, with an envelope of 140 billion euros to spend in the bart de wever refuses say next nine years. On the eve of historical budgetary efforts. Arizona would be well inspired “to balance its accounts without unbalanced the company”, writes The evening. Because in this area too, “it is union that will make strength”.