The resigning Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, will address his party’s crushing defeat for the first time on VTM’s programme “Het Conclaaf van 2024” airing on Sunday.
The Flemish Liberal Democrats (Open VLD) faced an unprecedented electoral defeat on 9 June, securing only 8.33% of the votes in Flanders. De Croo was visibly emotional when he spoke to supporters at the party headquarters in Brussels that evening.
“After such a defeat, one must know when to remain silent and allow others to step up,” he stated, breaking his silence since 9 June. “I was deeply disappointed by the results for a week, but then I moved on. Living in resentment makes life miserable, so why do that?”
The Prime Minister attributed the defeat partially to internal party conflicts. Egbert Lachaert had resigned as party president less than a year before the elections, and controversies involving State Secretary Eva De Bleeker and Deputy Prime Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne had caused public scandals. “As a party, we projected an image of what we absolutely do not want to be for a while,” De Croo explained.
He also hinted at his own political future. “I think I need to make room in national politics.” De Croo was sworn in as mayor of Brakel in early December but handed over the mayoral sash to Marleen Gyselinck, pending a new Federal Government.
