Selfies, a last swipe at the government and then books: this is what happened in the House on the last day of the legislature

“Partir, c’est mourir un peu say the French. And I’m kind of dying.” CD&V faction leader Servais Verherstraeten does not keep it completely dry. After almost 30 years in national politics, it will soon be over for the 64-year-old Kempen resident. He is still pushing the CD&V Chamber list, but it is mainly in support.

OVERVIEW. From a “historic passage” to “the hens on the pension fund”: this is how the federal ministers score

He is not the only veteran who will soon retire. His party colleague Koen Geens, twice minister, will not be there next time either. The liberals Patrick Dewael, former Prime Minister of Flanders, and Maggie De Block, former Minister of Health, are quitting. Green faction leader Wouter De Vriendt chooses Ostend. “It was a great honor and a pleasure to be a representative here,” said De Vriendt during his very last intervention. He got all hands together. Or how politicians can show their appreciation at the end of the legislature. (Read more below the photo)

At least on a human level. Because on a political level, the elections are just around the corner and things are going very smoothly. The last plenary meeting of the House therefore offers the opportunity to stand in front of the cameras one last time Villa politician to defend or attack the work of government.

N-VA faction leader Peter De Roover baptized his last achievement of the legislature “The unfinished symphony of Vivaldi”. “We managed to convince more and more people that Vivaldi was stagnant and a waste of time,” De Roover sneers. “Explain my incredible surprise that we have convinced someone else. You, Mr Prime Minister. You are in election mode and you have suddenly emerged as the biggest critic of your own policies.” (Read more below the reports)

De Croo defends his government and points out that he came to power when the world was in the grip of the coronavirus. “The whole world looked at us and wondered: ‘What’s going on in Belgium?’ 500 days after the election we still had no government. The whole world was busy with Covid and your party, Mr De Roover, was busy with the distribution of power packages.” To once again blame N-VA for fleeing the government in 2018. “I know very well what your party will do: block it and abandon our country. That is very clear.” The majority benches continued their applause for as long as possible.

De Roover appears unimpressed. “There is a part of the coalition agreement that you have not implemented, and that is about the fight against fake news,” says the N-VA faction leader. “Fortunately, otherwise your intervention would have been cancelled.” (Read more below the photo)

But the atmosphere of a last day of school prevails in the corridors. There are still some selfies left to be taken. Everyone wishes each other luck for the elections. “It’s over and the atmosphere is good,” says an employee. “We have finished our last reception, just like most of our colleagues. And later, when things are over here in the plenary, there may be another one.” (Grins)

And then there is still a month to go until the exams. Until the elections for a new parliament.