Fifth Column: The Godfather
“Bart De Wever is a pub strategist.” In other words, the N-VA president eagerly discusses matters on which he is no expert, or so says vice-prime minister Johan Vande Lanotte, who believes that Flanders’ biggest political force, will inevitably disappoint a large part of its voters
The godfather
SP.A is not in the best of positions for the 2014 elections, after which a centre-right coalition, with N-VA joined by CD&V and Open VLD, seems the most likely. This would be quite a blow for the Flemish socialists, who have been in power since 1988 (with a short break between 2007 and 2011). SP.A has never been very large – its results mostly averaging between 15 and 20% – but it has always had an important life line: its French-speaking counterpart, prime minister Elio Di Rupo’s PS, which is much stronger. However, the PS, too, is under threat, as N-VA sees it as the major obstacle to the reforms it wants.
Having been in power for so long also makes it hard for SP.A to stand out. It has other unwanted side effects, too. Vande Lanotte in particular has a reputation for being a major power broker. This became even more obvious last week when the newly appointed railway chief, Jo Cornu, seemed to come straight out of the viceprime minister’s little black book.
Before Cornu, no less than three other candidates for the same job had Vande Lanotte’s stamp of approval, leading parting NMBS chief Marc Descheemaeker to say that “if ever a film is made about the NMBS, Vande Lanotte’s part should be played by Marlon Brando,” referring to the American actor who played the title role in The Godfather.
With no politicians of the stature of De Wever and Kris Peeters (CD&V), SP.A has to make a difference with its proposals. Minister Freya Van den Bossche did so when she proposed a reform of the “home bonus”, the popular tax relief that makes home ownership possible for many (but not all). SP.A also strongly rejected the idea of “mini-jobs” of the German kind.
Meanwhile, Antwerp’s city council is shutting down socialist achievements, such as school trips to the coast and the countryside. That might even be an opportunity to SP.A, as it bluntly demonstrates the political choices at stake. Still, it remains unclear if the socialists can regain the sympathy of the working classes it defends.
Photo: Colijn Verkempinck
