2023-09-28 15:43:00
“If you have the wind in your sails, it is safer to choose a proven brand,” he said at a press conference in Brussels.
Mr. Dedecker will therefore be head of the list for the N-VA – but as an “independent” – in West Flanders for the federal legislative elections on June 9. In 2018, he was already a candidate on the same list, but “pushing” it to last place, also as an independent.
“I am once again throwing myself into battle,” said Mr. Dedecker, 71, who is also mayor of the coastal municipality of Middelkerke and began his political career within the Vld, the Flemish liberal party.
The former senator and deputy admitted to the press that he had been trying for several months to relaunch his own list, the Lijst Dedecker (LDD), which had enabled him to win five seats in the Chamber and one in the Senate in 2007.
“It went quite far in the discussions,” he said, emphasizing the “human cost”, with the need to seek 300 candidates and having to take care of the daily management of his party – this which his wife would hardly appreciate, according to him. .
Elections 2024: Jean-Marie Dedecker will be the head of the N-VA list in West Flanders
A recent poll giving the LDD 2.8% of voting intentions in West Flanders also played a role in its decision to join the N-VA. “So you have to be realistic, even if this poll could be wrong by 2 or 3 percent,” admitted Mr. Dedecker. If you then find that you are on the same wavelength as the N-VA on the most important issues, it is better to join forces,” he said.
The N-VA and the former coach of the Belgian judo team wish to join forces against the Vivaldi coalition and its possible retention in power. “We say: this will not happen,” stressed Mr. De Wever, reiterating his criticisms against federal policy on the socio-economic, budgetary, energy and asylum policy levels.
“Politics is mathematics. You have to obtain seats,” explained the president of the Flemish nationalists about the choice of Mr. Dedecker as head of the list.
According to him, the trend given by the polls is not very good. “We see that many voters are disgusted and are considering an emotional anti-system vote,” he argued, emphasizing that a victory for Vlaams Belang would pave the way for a Vivaldi II.
The arrival of Mr. Dedecker at the top of the list in the Chamber will have the consequence that the current N-VA federal deputy Sander Loones – a short-lived Minister of Defense – will draw the party list for the Flemish parliament, still in West Flanders . At the federal level, he continued to fight Viivaldi, even obtaining the resignation of two secretaries of state, Sarah Schlitz (Ecolo) and Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld).
“I am very happy that the collaboration (with Jean-Marie Dedecker) continues. It is time to make choices against Vivaldi, for West Flanders and for Flanders,” said Mr. Loones, saying he was “particularly honored ” to appear on the Flemish list. “Everyone knows that my heart beats in Flemish. It is the only responsible parliament in the only democracy that counts,” he said
“We still have big plans for Sander,” assured Mr. De Wever, refusing to give any details.
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