The time when Vooruit was close to 17 percent is definitely over. In the latest poll by DPG, RTL and Le Soir, Melissa Depraetere’s party still has just over 11 percent left. Not even a percentage point above the 2019 election result. And above all: for the first time since the formation of the federal government, they have to give way to CD&V (13.1 percent).
Depraetere himself points to a difficult month as an explanation for the sad score. “A disappointing poll is never pleasant. Less than a month ago we still polled at 15 percent at Knack. Back then it was still about purchasing power, our core theme. There has been a lot of noise and fuss about the party in the past month. You will immediately see that in the polls,” says the party spokesperson. It is due to the troubles at Vooruit Antwerp and the racism riot surrounding former alderman Tom Meeuws.
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Malaise
But actually the malaise runs deeper than that. In the waning days of Conner Rousseau’s presidency, the Socialists began to falter somewhat. The now infamous drunkard punch in café ‘t Hemelrijk ultimately killed him. Rousseau is still not entirely sure whether he will still participate in the elections. This will probably be from a list pusher position in East Flanders. With polls leaning uncomfortably towards the 2019 result, calls for his return will only grow louder. “Although it remains Conner’s decision,” it sounds decisively within the party.
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Frank Vandenbroucke continues to act as if he is still in the middle of the legislature. His party wants him to showcase his files more.
With the disappearance of Rousseau, the party has lost its most prominent figurehead. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke continues to act as if he is still in the middle of the legislature. However, it is clear to everyone, including Vooruit, that the De Croo government will not be able to achieve much anymore. It is time for Vandenbroucke to start realizing this too, according to the voice in the corridors of the party. For example, that he, like the CD&V ministers, puts his files on display more.
It is certainly clear that Vooruit still has a lot of work to do in the coming months. Otherwise the conclusion could well be that the elections come a year too late for the Socialists. That they end up back where they started.
Vlaams Belang is the largest
Elsewhere, Vlaams Belang continues its march through the polls unhindered. Tom Van Grieken’s party has 27.4 percent, a jump of 8.7 percent compared to the elections. For example, the radical right party is clearly distancing itself from N-VA, which stands at 20.4 percent (-5.1 percent). CD&V therefore appears third with 13.1 percent, still 1.1 percent less than at the elections. Then Vooruit, PVDA on 9.5 percent (+3.9 percent). Open VLD remains dramatic at 8.3 percent (-5.2 percent). Green closes with just 7.8 percent (-2 percent).
In Wallonia, Les Engagés are in for a big surprise. They rise to 16.9 percent (+6.1 percent) and third place. PS is narrowly the largest with 21.3 percent (-4.8 percent), then MR at 20.5 percent, the same as the election result. PTB only adds 1.1 percent more to 14.9 percent. Ecolo (11.9 percent, – 3 percent) and Défi (4.8 percent, + 0.7 percent) close the row.