The Flemish Green party needs a new president. Now, party politicians Jeremie Vaneeckhout and Nadia Naji are teaming up to carry the role together.
"As a complementary duo, we can boost diversity at the top of Groen and bring more colour to politics in general," said Vaneeckhout (36 and from West Flanders). Alongside Naji (30 and from Molenbeek), the pair has little competition for the top spot.
With their different profiles, Vaneeckhoot and Naji have the potential to appeal to a breadth of voters. Where Vaneeckhoot fits the traditional Flandrian profile, Naji's North African heritage and urban outlook make the two a compelling partnership. Both enjoy the support of prominent Green politicians.
Naji was reportedly galvanised to apply for the leading role after her Brussels neighbourhood was dragged through the mud by Flemish socialist Conner Rosseau. His inflammatory comment (“When I drive through Molenbeek, I don't feel in Belgium”) caused a media stir last week and drew widespread criticism.
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Officially, Vaneeckhout would be chairperson but the duo would operate as co-chairs similar to their French-speaking sister party Ecolo.
However, the Belgian Greens have struggled to find their feet in the Belgian government's seven-party coalition. "In recent years we have been too much spokesperson for Vivaldi (the Belgian government) and too little for our own project," Vaneeckhoot admitted to De Standaard.
Cost of living concerns
Groen Party confidence has been low for some time. Current chairperson Meyrem Almaci was ready to pass the torch when she resigned, yet other Greens were reluctant to take the helm. Concerns about the cost of living are dominating the political agenda, moving the focus away from green policies. In addition, the Greens have had to drop their long-held calls for an exit from nuclear energy.
Whoever wins the presidency of the Groen party will have the task of preparing the party for the national elections in 2024.
In Belgium, the Flemish Greens took 6.1% of the vote while the French-speaking Ecolo won 6.1%, giving the green agenda 12.2% in total in 2019.
The same year saw the Greens win 10% of seats at the European Parliament. As issues related to the climate crisis are thrust to the centre of public debate, the green agenda is growing ever more salient.
This should see green parties enjoy a surge in voter interest, with a 2021 survey by the European Commission indicating that 93% of Europeans consider climate change the most pressing concern.
The deadline for applying for the Groen presidency is on Tuesday evening.
