Bart De Wever: “The Vivaldi must disappear”
The president of the N-VA, Bart De Wever, was clear on Saturday in his New Year’s speech: “The Vivaldi must disappear. The Flemish parties which collaborated on it do not satisfy the Flemish votes”, he launched . Before adding “those who vote extremist out of frustration contribute to a Vivaldi 2 coalition”. For the second consecutive year, the boss of the Flemish nationalists had to broadcast his New Year’s message online, he lamented on Saturday. As the Omicron wave sweeps over the world, there is, according to the president of the N-VA, a “cautious hope” thanks to the Flemings. “Despite the fact that the vaccines were not keeping their promises in terms of infectiousness, the Flemish people kept faith in the miracle of science”.
Bart De Wever noted that, according to experts, the Covid will soon become an endemic rather than a pandemic. “And then the free life without restrictions will finally be here again. Our mental well-being, the education of our children and grandchildren, our prosperity and our care would all benefit,” he hoped.
The nationalist pointed out that Flanders continues to govern differently from Belgium, referring in particular to the Flemish recovery plan, the reform of housing taxation and the climate plan.
The contrast with Belgium could not be greater, he believes. The Vivaldi government stands still as the abyss draws near, he illustrated. Necessary labor market and social security reforms will not take place. The government, dominated by left-wing and French-speaking parties, raised taxes by 2 billion euros and spent that money on people who don’t work, sneered Bart De Wever. He also criticized that “the cheapest and most climate-friendly source of energy is being abandoned. On the orders of environmentalists, we are going to make the mistake of the century by shutting down our nuclear power plants.”
For the president of the N-VA, it is time for something to change: “Soon, it will be ten years, during the 21st century, that Flanders is governed without a majority. We pay most of the taxes, we carry out 83% of the exports, we transfer billions and keep bankrupt parts of the country afloat. But we are not respected.”
This is why, according to him, the Vivaldi must disappear. “The Flemish parties that are involved do not need the votes of the Flemish people. Because they will discard Flanders again without hesitation. (…) Those who vote extremist out of frustration, help a Vivaldi 2 to get into the saddle, if necessary with even fewer Flemish seats.”
In the eyes of the nationalists, Flanders only has the choice of confederalism. “Give Flanders self-determination to take back our future in hand. Only then can we remain a leading region, offering prosperity, well-being and warmth to all citizens”, a conclusion Bart DeWeve