Is N-VA prepared to form a government with Vlaams Belang after the elections? If it depends on Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon, yes.
Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 7:10 AM
According to the Prime Minister, his party should not view a possible government formation with Vlaams Belang differently than with other parties. “For us, Vlaams Belang is a party like any other,” he says in an interview with this newspaper. “We will wait for the election results before discussing possible government participation. I don’t say in advance whether or not I want to form a government with CD&V or Open VLD?”
Although at the same time he also sees major differences between N-VA and Vlaams Belang. “The water is very deep in various areas,” says Jambon. He also talks about the nitrogen dossier. “The biggest opposition then came from Vlaams Belang. And when I hear the dirty slap from some in the Flemish Parliament, I think: no eggs from that farmer.”
Jambon also emphasizes that it is much more important for his party to have a Flemish majority at the federal level. “Let’s first ensure that we can form a strong Flemish group there… – I almost said Vlaams Blok (laughs) –, a Flemish group that represents the majority of Flemish people. That is the stake.”
According to the Prime Minister, a federal vote for Vlaams Belang is a wasted vote. “If N-VA really needs to achieve a workable majority at federal level, then we can put our demands on the table. It is science fiction that Vlaams Belang will one day govern federally.”
Although Jambon also admits that the June 9 elections will be an “uphill battle”, given that his party is below 20 percent in the polls, while Vlaams Belang is flirting with 30 percent. “The distance may seem very large in the polls, but if we win back 2 percent of their voters, the gap is suddenly much smaller and we speak a different language.”