The strong performance of the Flemish right-wing party N-VA in Sunday's local elections has strengthened the party's position in federal negotiations, said Bart De Wever on Monday before the opening of the party’s political bureau.
In addition to their victory in Antwerp, the Flemish nationalists also achieved good results in Ghent and Kortrijk. The N-VA believes the provincial elections are the best measure.
In all Flemish provinces, the nationalists reached or exceeded the 25% threshold. This is better than their performance in the regional elections in June.
Bart De Wever, the federal formator, stated that this strong result gives him a "reinforced mandate at the federal negotiating table." He now hopes a new federal coalition can be formed by November.
N-VA federal negotiator Jan Jambon views positively that none of the five parties expected to form the Arizona coalition were severely weakened by Sunday's results. This should encourage them to continue their negotiations in the same spirit as before.
