N-VA party leader Dedecker does not rule out government with Vlaams Belang: “Theo Francken wants to take the leap”

Should the N-VA collaborate with Vlaams Belang? Just about every N-VA member grimaces painfully when asked that question. Everyone, except Jean-Marie Dedecker. In our political podcast Van Impe Point In the final stretch towards elections, we will receive eight tenors, including Dedecker, for an in-depth conversation. The N-VA party leader for West Flanders zoomed in on the future of N-VA and the possible cooperation with Vlaams Belang. “If confederalism is not possible, then we must go for it in Flanders with Vlaams Belang,” says Dedecker.

Dedecker, who is affiliated with the N-VA but sits as an independent, does support the strategy of his party leadership to first negotiate a ‘confederal’ change with the PS. “But if they put N-VA aside again, then we are jostled. Then of course we have to govern with Vlaams Belang at Flemish level,” he says. Because Dedecker does not support the idea of ​​governing without state reform. “N-VA is no longer allowed to govern federally without state reform. You have to learn from history. We once said that a government without the PS was a state reform in itself. That turned out not to be true.”

The chance that there will be a state reform after the elections is not great anyway. And then Dedecker wants the N-VA to focus fully on Vlaams Belang. “If we have to risk our own prosperity to continuously pull Wallonia along. A Wallonia that does not want to change. Not in the areas of migration, prosperity and healthcare. If that’s the price we have to pay, I’d rather take the risk on the other side. The other side chosen by the people. Imagine excluding one third of the population. What do you tell them then?”

Coalition agreement

It should not be surprising that Dedecker, of all people, is banging open the door to Vlaams Belang. The former chairman of Lijst Dedecker has always been against the cordon sanitary, which excludes Vlaams Belang from government participation. “It’s completely undemocratic,” he says. Although he also acknowledges that Vlaams Belang has a number of very extreme figures. “There are people around with whom I could not govern. Then they should just agree and not make those subjects ministers. We shouldn’t have Filip Dewinter, we shouldn’t have Sam Van Rooy. You make a coalition agreement. And what it says must be followed. Also on an ethical level.”

Within the N-VA there has been a fierce private debate for some time now about the attitude towards Vlaams Belang. Dedecker also mentions this discord in the podcast. “For me there is no Great Wall of China. If Bart De Wever or Geert Bourgeois says that, then that is their opinion. That is why I will remain with the party as an independent. Then I can express my opinion without arguing with the supporters. Although many people are of my opinion. 80 percent want to break the cordon. But that is not Bart De Wever’s idea. Not even from Zuhal Demir. I think Theo (Francken, ed.) would dare to take the leap.”

In any case, Dedecker sees a major role for Theo Francken in the near future. When asked who can succeed De Wever, he answers resolutely “our Theo”. “He has the eloquence, charisma and ambition. Why not?” Dedecker also thinks that N-VA should prepare for the post-De Wever era. “He is the most erudite. I have a lot of admiration for him. But twenty years? The man has a family, four children. He is mayor of Antwerp… Sooner or later he will say: chairman for twenty years. I have a lot of calluses on my soul. Ca suffit.”