Bart De Wever, leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), has taken the oath of office as Belgium’s new prime minister, marking a significant shift to the right in the country’s politics. De Wever’s appointment follows seven months of intense coalition negotiations, resulting in a hard-fought deal that makes him the first nationalist from Dutch-speaking Flanders to become Belgian premier.
The 54-year-old law-and-order candidate has pledged to crack down on irregular migration, underscoring a right-wing shift in European politics. De Wever has softened his stance on calls for Flanders to become an independent country in recent years.
At his swearing-in ceremony, De Wever emphasized Belgium’s commitment to meeting NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of GDP, up from the current 1.3%. He also stressed the importance of preserving the EU’s relationship with the United States, particularly in the face of challenges from President Donald Trump.
De Wever’s N-VA party is part of the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament, which also includes lawmakers from the parties of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Czech leader Petr Fiala.
Add Comment