Coalition

The question has been asked countless times to N-VA representatives and this weekend also to Jan Jambon: would N-VA create a Flemish majority with Vlaams Belang if both have a majority in the Flemish Parliament after June 9?

In weekend interviews with De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad, Jambon responded largely in parallel to the question: N-VA mainly wants to be at the wheel at the federal level and then cooperation with Vlaams Belang is impossible anyway.

“Not federally anyway, that’s a no-brainer. No French-speaking party would go along with that. What is a vote for Vlaams Belang worth? Whether we have to swear expensive oaths about a Flemish government with Vlaams Belang does not matter. It is more important that we can ensure a Flemish majority at the federal level. I know that all the major challenges we face today are at federal level: budget, migration, making work pay, justice, social security…

In doing so, he says what his chairman Bart De Wever also said earlier: N-VA wants the certainty that CD&V, Open VLD and Vooruit will not create a federal government in which the Flemish parties do not have a majority (read: a government without N-VA).

In Het Nieuwsblad Jambon was also asked about the cordon sanitary and he reiterated that N-VA is not a fan of the cordon. What does that mean? “It means that for us Vlaams Belang is a party like any other. Although the water is deep in certain areas,” says Jambon.

“So there is no Chinese Wall between N-VA and Vlaams Belang. Although the water is very deep in several areas.” The Great Wall of China was a figure of speech by Chairman De Wever, who previously stated that there is such a wall.

Jambon also said: “We will see what that means for government formation after the elections. I don’t say in advance whether or not I want to form a government with CD&V or Open VLD? We are waiting for the election results.”

Comments

The statements are already causing many reactions on social media. According to CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi, Jambon has now made it clear that the Great Wall of China has been demolished. “We will continue to oppose a coalition between N-VA and Vlaams Belang. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but we clearly think VB is an extreme right-wing party.” Mahdi also does not understand Jambon’s strategy: “What is the raison d’être of N-VA? Jambon makes a vote for N-VA useless. Anyone who wants a government with N-VA and Vlaams Belang will now vote for the latter.”

Green also shoots with live ammunition. According to co-chairman Jeremie Vaneeckhout, this is the total normalization of the extreme right. He points out that no one knows yet what the N-VA position is. “For Demir it is jamais de la vie, De Wever is threatening cooperation with Vlaams Belang and Jambon now says that VB is a party like any other.”

Open VLD chairman Tom Ongena emphasizes that Vlaams Belang is an extremist party that divides and condemns people because of their origins. “Therefore no adventures with extremists. That will only lead to months of blockage and standstill. We cannot afford that, because it threatens to cost many jobs and prosperity.”

Finally, Melissa Depraetere of Vooruit repeats her mantra of recent weeks: “Wherever the extreme right is in power, prosperity, freedom and security are declining. N-VA continues to open the door to extreme right-wing decline. We are the leader on the left and center. Only we are big enough to prevent N-VA from opting for Vlaams Belang.”