The irony of a Flemish nationalist prime minister
06 February 2025
He built his career calling for Belgium to break up. Now he'll run it. On Monday, Bart De Wever became the first Flemish nationalist to assume the role of Belgian prime minister, seven months after the federal elections.
The leader of the right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) is a well-known figure in Dutch-speaking Flanders, and a controversial one in French-speaking Wallonia. For the last two decades, he has advocated for more Flemish autonomy, though in recent years, he toned down his calls for independence, shifting to a broader conservative agenda centred on fiscal discipline, law and order, and being tough on immigration.
What does his appointment mean for Belgium's unity? De Wever said he aims to improve the well-being of the Flemish people, adding that "if Wallonia can also benefit, all the better." He may attempt to push for greater regional autonomy, but his ambitions will be constrained by Belgium's complex federal system, where Dutch- and French-speaking ministers must compromise. His coalition also lacks the two-thirds majority needed for a state reform to turn Belgium into a confederation.
Beyond institutional hurdles, Belgium's soaring deficit rate – one of the worst in the EU – will give De Wever a hard time running the country, and ironically, maintaining national unity might be his best path forward.
 | Laura Muyldermans Among my French-speaking Belgian friends, reactions to De Wever's appointment have been mixed, if not indifferent. His humour and strong command of French seem to have earned him a certain level of trust. His more moderate rhetoric, along with his positioning as a bulwark against the far-right and ultranationalist Vlaams Belang, has also made him appear more acceptable to some Francophones. Yet many remain wary of his Flemish nationalism and right-wing views, especially in a region that has long leaned left. |
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