François De Smet, leader of centrist DéFi, closed his party's final pre-election congress on Sunday evening, firmly clarifying his party's position in the run-up to the elections.
"The country is at a critical juncture facing significant threats from drug and arms trafficking, Flemish nationalism, far-right and far-left forces, religious extremism, and a complex budgetary situation. In response, DéFi remains the only democratic party fundamentally independent of others and refrains from favouring any alliance to honour its commitments," said party leader François De Smet.
Activists were rallied by young party candidates throughout the evening, including the youngest candidate, Lamia El Mansouri, a 19-year-old law student, and Bertrand Custinne, the lead candidate for the Dinant-Philippeville district for the Walloon Parliament.
Initially demoralised by the early campaign's internal tensions, the activists were rejuvenated, notably by their party leader and Brussels' list leader and current Employment Minister Bernard Clerfayt, but also by his predecessor, former minister Didier Gosuin, who returned to actively support the list in the Chamber.
"I am here because I am committed to you and to address internal pettiness, which I don’t appreciate. I am also concerned about the decline of this state," said Gosuin.
Critics expected the Vivaldi coalition to reform taxation, manage migration strains, and replenish state authorities—justice and police. Instead, they claim the coalition fell into disarray under MR, who feared upsetting its wealthy voters.
Like his colleague, De Smet stressed DéFi's efforts to tackle significant issues, starting with cleaning up public finances.
In his opinion, this will be achieved by fiscal reform that does not penalise labour and protects the deprived workers; tougher stances on tax and financial fraud; and a re-federalisation of areas such as health. It will not be via an irrational reform project of the state versus MR-Bouchez/N-VA in a "concept rather close to vegetarian butchery," De Smet stated.
DéFi also aims to address issues related to secularism early in the legislature – an area neglected by PS/Ecolo left-wing parties, De Smet further emphasised.
He voiced the need for a thorough cleanup of public finances at all institutional levels, including in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the Walloon and Brussels Regions.
"Left-wing parties don’t perceive the issue in continuing to finance widespread free services. We don’t want to abolish jobs, but unnecessary roles in Wallonia and Brussels require management," he underlined.
