Bart de Wever attends the ceremonies of July 21 for the very first time as Prime Minister of the Kingdom. Figure figure in Flemish nationalism, his attitude and his remarks will be scrutinized: he will make the minimum required on this national day.
This morning, the boss of the federal government attended Te Deum after his negotiation night. This afternoon, he attended the military parade on the Place des Palais. And these will be the only two activities of the Prime Minister on July 21: no ride at the Parc festival, no pack of fries with his government, no fireworks, it will be the bare minimum for Bart de Wever.
And the Prime Minister is not the only member of the N-VA to have to work today, this is also the case of the Minister of Defense, Théo Francken, met this morning at Te Deum. “I do my job. I am Minister of Defense. National Defense. I am a professional, ”he said.
Theo Francken and La Brabançonne
Does he know the Brabançonne, Belgian national anthem? “I think I know a little,” he replied, without agreeing to sing it to our microphone.
And our team’s request to make him say “long live Belgium”, he replied … “Long live the defense”, before justifying himself: “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. »»
Bart de Wever (N-VA) attended Monday noon, for the first time in his capacity as Prime Minister, at Te Deum in the cathedral of Saints-Michel-Et-Gudule, in Brussels. As tradition dictates, the royal family was also present.
The Te Deum is celebrated twice a year in the Catholic rite in Belgium: the day of the king’s feast, November 15, and on July 21 on the occasion of the national holiday. In parallel with the ceremony in Brussels, celebrations took place on Monday in Antwerp and Mons on Monday. Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz attended the religious office at Notre-Dame d’Antvers cathedral; Prince Laurent and Princess Claire were present during that of Mons.
In addition to the royal family and the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin (MR), the Minister of Defense Theo Francken (N-VA) and the Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) participated in the ceremony.
Afternoon, the parade will be marked by a tribute to the fifty years of presence of women in the army. The national holiday will end with a show in the Cinquantenaire park in Brussels, followed by a fireworks
