Belgium PM Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal) has pressed for a better cooperation with the Francophone parties in his New Year's speech. He does not want a further state reform; instead he wants more cooperation. Belgium is just 5 months away from national elections.
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Belgian PM delivers New Year's address: "Cooperating is key"
Michaël Torfs
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2024 is an important election year in Belgium, with the parliamentary elections of 9 June and the local elections in October. In his video message, Alexander De Croo made clear what he stands for.
Optimism is a moral duty, according to De Croo, whose party Open VLD is in dire straits if we can believe the opinion polls. He underlined what his government achieved over the past years: almost 300,000 extra jobs and an economic growth which is bigger than in neighbouring countries.
The image that Alexander De Croo is one of a hard-working premier looking for solutions, who made headway in difficult years marred by the corona and the energy crisis, among others. Mr De Croo does not support a new state reform to give Flanders more powers - this issue could complicate the formation of a new federal government after the elections.
"We will not lose our time turning in circles to split up our country in the end", Mr De Croo said. No new state reform, in other words. "That would be to nobody's benefit." Other parties such as the Flemish nationalists of the N-VA or even far-right Vlaams Belang, both of whom are enjoying promising opinion polls, obviously have other ideas on the matter.
