The decision of the N-VA to run lists in Wallonia has drawn the scrutiny of MR President, Georges-Louis Bouchez, who perceives the nationalist party as attempting to support the Socialist Party (PS).
"Bart De Wever shows great affection for Paul Magnette. We saw this in 2020: when I tried to form a government without the PS, he insisted on including the PS at the table," said the MR leader, responding to the attacks made on his party during the N-VA campaign launch in Wallonia.
"Now, he’s leading an offensive in Wallonia to help the PS and Paul Magnette, turning N-VA into a national party, departing from its original stance as a Flemish nationalist party. This indicates one thing: Bart De Wever’s compass is broken. He no longer knows which direction to head in," explained Bouchez on Thursday during a VRT interview.
N-VA chairman Bart De Wever, N-VA candidate Drieu Godefridi and N-VA's Theo Francken pose for the photographer at a press conference of conservative Flemish nationalist party N-VA to present the head of list for the upcoming Chamber elections in the Brabant Wallon province, Wednesday 20 March 2024. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
The Francophone liberal leader was also highly critical of N-VA’s chosen representative in Wallonia, conservative right-wing essayist, Drieu Godefridi. Godefridi was formerly close to the MR and has reportedly displayed what could be interpreted as support for Vlaams Belang, Donald Trump, and Eric Zemmour, despite claiming not to be a ‘fan’.
Bouchez asserted: "This is someone who has repeatedly aspired to a role within the MR." he said. "He has taken positions incompatible with liberal lines."
On Wednesday, Drieu Godefridi told RTL that "If we have the Vivaldi, it’s because of Mr. Bouchez. I find the MR's record disastrous. Otherwise, I would have joined them, it would have been easier, because carrying an N-VA list in Wallonia is not the easy choice. If I had joined the MR, what would the results have been? At the moment, they are disappointing".
