Amidst ongoing political deadlock and with a governing coalition still elusive after 546 days, Belgium is seeing an unusual shift in the political landscape.Prime Minister Bart De Wever is receiving support from an unexpected source – the leftist PTB party – due to a dispute with the European Union regarding frozen Russian assets. This surprising alignment, occurring as Belgium observes the Saint Nicholas holiday, signals a rare moment of unity amidst persistent political challenges.
As the Saint Nicholas holiday approaches, Belgian politics have seen a surprising moment of unity. Even the traditionally critical leftist party, PTB, has voiced support for Prime Minister Bart De Wever in a recent dispute with the European Union over frozen Russian assets. The holiday spirit even extended to a visit from Saint Nicholas to a restricted cabinet meeting.
Raoul Hedebouw, president of the PTB, stated, “The Prime Minister is right to stand up to Ursula von der Leyen, and we support him.” De Wever himself remarked, “This is a unanimous decision in Belgium, something that happens once a century.” The unusual alignment underscores the widespread concern over the handling of Russian funds.
De Wever’s strong stance appears to be paying dividends beyond political support. He recently received a warm reception from a crowd of 2,000 French-speaking Belgians who attended a speech at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, complete with an impersonation of former Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo.
A Nearly Inaudible Debate
Meanwhile, other political figures have struggled to find common ground. A recent debate on RTL tvi between Paul Magnette and Georges-Louis Bouchez was marked by frequent interruptions and a lack of substantive exchange.
The debate highlighted a curious political echo from the past: the resurgence of the “tax rage” argument. Originally used by Jean Gol, a former leader of the French-speaking liberal party in the 1990s, the slogan “STOP tax rage” is now being recycled by the left. This demonstrates how political rhetoric can be unexpectedly repurposed across the ideological spectrum.
Adding to the political uncertainty, Brussels remains without a governing coalition after 546 days – a record that appears likely to continue growing.
