“A quick turnaround that makes CD&V the great people’s party of yesteryear is not possible,” says Karel Lattrez. “The most important thing CD&V has to do now is regain a few percentage points so that they are relevant again.” Although the time is short, Lattrez clarifies, because within two years there will be elections again.
With Mahdi, the party is clearly opting for a rejuvenation. Vooruit and Vlaams Belang already had a young chairman, and now CD&V is also following. Mahdi is 33 and, according to Lattrez, will approach it differently than his predecessor: “It is clear from Mahdi’s first tweet that the style is going to change”. Mahdi announced his appointment as chairman with a photo of him as a half-robot from the movie The Terminator with the accompanying phrase “Guess who’s back”.
Lattrez clarifies that the fault for these bad numbers is not only with Coens, but that there was a clear need for change, “especially if they want to score well in the next election”. The result in the elections in 2024 will also depend a lot on how the CD&V ministers still do, Lattrez thinks. “Beke must quickly show that Welfare is something for their party. In addition, Annelies Verlinden and Vincent Van Peteghem will absolutely have to prove themselves at federal level”.
Mahdi’s place as Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration will now have to be filled by someone else. According to Lattrez, a geographical component is very much at play here: “Antwerp and East Flanders are already represented in the government with Verlinden and Van Peteghem, so there is a good chance that they are now looking at the West Flemish Nathalie Muylle”.