The Flemish government under Jan Jambon (N-VA) has had a difficult first year. The start was dubious – remember the uprising of the culture sector. And the sequel was no better: the corona wave in March caused thousands of deaths in residential care centers. The October corona wave was spotted late.
The political barometer of Jambon I continues to be on the thunder for the future as well. “The coalition is already having a lot of difficulties – the ‘MP’ is not in the spotlight and the minister cast is weak – but now there is another problem: an acute lack of trust between coalition partners N-VA and Open Vld,” he said. Dave Sinardet, political scientist at the VUB. “The formation of Vivaldi has left wounds and it is doubtful that they will heal.”
Betrayal
A month and a half after the start of Vivaldi, N-VA chairman Bart De Wever remains deeply disappointed with the way in which his party was ‘dumped’ by Open Vld during the federal government formation. “Men (the liberals, JVH) told me for a year: ‘You have to make an agreement with PS’. When I finally did that, they tore it apart and opted for purple-green. That leaves a sour taste ”, De Wever said on Sunday VTM News.
Open Vld leader Egbert Lachaert had De Wever in an interview earlier that day The Sunday, suggested “having a coffee or going for a walk” to clear up their differences. Lachaert says he has not spoken to his colleague for four months. He admitted that the situation weighs on the functioning of the Flemish government.
Officially, the Jambon government is not affected by the federal tension between N-VA and Open Vld. The coalition can fall back on a detailed coalition agreement. Immediately after the formation of De Croo I, Jambon asked for and received the confidence of his team.
“In principle, the federal situation should not have any repercussions on the Flemish level. Changing coalitions at different levels of government are simply the essence of a federal state, ”says Sinardet. “But in practice it has been clear for some time that in Belgium the party headquarters have more influence than the governments at the end of the day.”
This analysis is not shared within the Flemish coalition. A prominent source says: “If there is live shooting between party headquarters, it has consequences. But within our team itself, the impact of this is still small for the time being. All ministers work well together. Everyone works hard and does their best. There is no question of a crisis. ”
Opposition
CD&V chairman Joachim Coens also preaches peace and tranquility. His party threatens to get stuck between N-VA and Open Vld. “Naturally, N-VA may oppose the House, which is logical. But in Flanders, the agreements made must be complied with, ”it says.
Although Coens admits that a government is preferably more than a number of ministers who implement a coalition agreement. “Ultimately, that text is a snapshot. There are always new themes that you have to respond to. Good interpersonal relationships are important at such times. First of all, between the ministers. If we don’t need something, it’s four years of arguing in Flanders and fighting federalism with the new federal government. ”
For Sinardet, the key lies with N-VA. How will the party reposition itself after being dropped from federal government formation? In 2012 – when 541 days of formation resulted in the Di Rupo government – N-VA went all out for the federal opposition role, despite Flemish participation in power. “The difference with today is that N-VA now heads the Flemish government. Then one almost has to give it up. That seems difficult for Flemish nationalists. ”
–
