© BELGIUM
“Only with Green”. That is the slogan with which the Greens are withdrawing their campaign towards the June 9 elections. The party wants to follow a substantive course, which should also guide Groen into the Flemish majority. “Only with Groen will the Flemish government’s destruction policy stop,” says co-chair Nadia Naji.
The Greens, their ministers and most of the leaders went to Moorsel in Flemish Brabant with a colorful campaign bus. A conscious choice, says co-chairman Jeremie Vaneeckhout. At the stop where the bus departed, services were recently significantly reduced – a symbol of the Flemish government’s “demolition policy”. The fact that there is also a school, sports hall and daycare nearby is a nice bonus as a campaign image.
“The recipes of the traditional parties have run out, they are letting people down,” Vaneeckhout continues. The campaign should highlight that a government with Greens on board approaches things fundamentally differently. Increasing pensions and switching to renewable energy was only possible with the greens in the federal government. And the only minister who tackled nitrogen and implemented a supporting policy was Vera Dua twenty years ago, Naji makes the link with the farmers’ protest.
“Only with Green”
“It is therefore high time that Groen is also in the Flemish government. Only with Groen will the Flemish government’s destruction policy stop,” it said. “Only with Green do you get a fair climate policy that includes everyone, good affordable care and fair opportunities for everyone.” These are also the three priorities that the party is putting forward in the campaign, one of which will always accompany the basic slogan.
This should immediately make it clear that Groen wants to conduct a substantive campaign. “Unlike other parties, we are careful not to make people afraid of the other, or of playing the trick,” Naji emphasizes. To further strengthen the launch of the campaign, the party is launching a modest online campaign in which it is giving away ten De Lijn journey tickets.
Ambition
To become part of the Flemish majority, you need seats. Naji does not want to put a number on the ambition. “At least as much as last time. We want to have as much impact as possible.” And to have a big impact, you have to be as big as possible. In the previous elections, Groen won fourteen seats in the Flemish Parliament.
In any case, the candidates have just completed a three-day campaign to prepare them for the campaign. It is clear that Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter will play a leading role in that campaign. It is not the case that it will appear on posters everywhere in Flanders, but it will be played out through online channels, on leaflets, etc., together with the two co-chairmen and Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten.
