These days, "democracy" often gets a bad rep. Its detractors reduce the term to an occasional duty (mandatory in Belgium) that inevitably doesn't produce the hoped-for result and has laid the foundation of some of this century's most disastrous political designs.
This intentionally simplistic conception allows critics of all colours to paint themselves as cheated by the system and fuels calls for alternative measures. In Belgium this might mean saying "to hell" with compatriots over the language divide and stir the appetite for regional separatism.
In a bid to push back against his Flemish rivals, Alexander De Croo made an appeal for nuance in a lecture on Tuesday evening. He insisted on the need to champion complexity rather than distrust it, arguing for the "hundreds of thousands of opinions" that democracy responds to.
Belgium is often smeared for having a surplus of diplomacy, where the diversity of demands at the national negotiating table impedes progress and dilutes decisions with reams of concessions. Whilst there's no doubt that Belgium's bureaucracy could be streamlined in some instances, the Prime Minister made a strong case for the breadth of views concentrated in the country being our greatest asset – even ahead of cycling or the nation's sense of humour.
De Croo countered that it is in fact nationalism that should be discussed more, notably its failures that have lured voters towards the "mass destruction of wealth". He highlighted the legacies of recent populist projects that took a turn for the worse, pronouncing them "ruinous" blunders that aren't castigated enough.
Whilst the PM put forward a compelling case to a hall of attendant university students (I was unable to find whether the premier's schedule left time for his points to be challenged afterwards), entreaties to complexity are harder to sell in the wider public sphere where straightforward slogans dominate the discourse.
Can voters still be won with nuance or are we doomed to recognise the ruins of nationalism too late? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. 'Ruins of nationalism' are not talked about enough, says Belgian PM
During a lecture at the Brussels VUB University on Tuesday evening, Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo strongly criticised the "call of simplicity" of nationalism in the run-up to the Belgian federal elections next year. Read more.
2. Not a luxury good: Public transport still too expensive in Belgium
When it comes to the affordability of public transport in European countries, Belgium scores relatively highly. However there is still much to be done to improve the accessibility of services and make them a more popular option, Greenpeace insists. Read more.
3. Waffling on: 14 of the best Belgian jokes
Belgium is best known for its chocolate, its frites, its waffles, and, of course, its beer. But perhaps it's time to add humour to the list too, as we reveal the country's comic side with these 14 quick quips. Read more.
4. Zelenskyy in the Netherlands to meet with International Criminal Court officials
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on unannounced visit to the Netherlands on Thursday to meet with officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Dutch government. Read more.
5. Qatargate: EU proposes new anti-corruption measures after scandal
The European Commission has proposed a series of new anti-corruption measures aimed at tackling graft both inside and outside the EU, as the bloc attempts to prevent a repeat of the corruption scandal which has engulfed European politics over the past few months. Read more.
6. Only 8% of Belgians don't use online banking
Belgians are increasingly shunning visits to the bank in favour of online banking, a survey commissioned by Febelfin reveals. While 92% of respondents use online banking services, only 43% actually go to the bank more than once per year. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Maison St-Cyr
You can’t miss it. The Maison Saint-Cyr at Square Ambiorix 11 is one of the most flamboyant art nouveau houses ever built in Brussels. Or anywhere. Read more.
