First Cracks Appear in N-VA Unity: Internal Divisions Deepen

Belgium’s largest political party, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), is showing unprecedented signs of internal division that go far beyond a personal feud between leading figures, according to analysis published by De Morgen. The cracks reflect deeper ideological and strategic disagreements within a party that has dominated Flemish politics for over a decade, with potential implications for the stability of Belgium’s federal government.

The Trigger: A Public Ministerial Dispute

The immediate flashpoint was a public conflict between two N-VA ministers in the Flemish government: Annick De Ridder (Mobility) and Zuhal Demir (Education). The dispute centers on responsibility for the failing student transport system for special education — a politically sensitive issue following a deadly bus accident in Buggenhout in May 2026.

According to VRT NWS, a coalition agreement had stipulated that responsibility for special education transport would transfer from Mobility to Education. However, Demir has resisted taking over the portfolio, citing budget constraints. “Zuhal is using the budget as an excuse to say she definitely doesn’t want to do it,” a government source told VRT NWS. Demir countered: “I will not shirk my responsibility the day I am responsible.”

Deeper Divisions Beyond Personalities

While the De Ridder-Demir conflict has captured headlines, analysts argue it is symptomatic of more profound tensions within the N-VA. The party faces strategic disagreements on multiple fronts: fiscal discipline versus social spending, tensions between Antwerp and the rest of Flanders, and the fundamental question of whether to govern as a centrist party or compete with the far-right Vlaams Belang.

A detailed profile of Annick De Ridder by VRT NWS reveals growing internal criticism of her confrontational governing style. Fellow N-VA local politicians have accused her of prioritizing Antwerp in infrastructure spending, particularly the controversial Oosterweel connection project, now projected to cost €13.6 billion.

The Leadership Vacuum

The divisions have emerged in the wake of Bart De Wever’s departure as party chairman in April 2025 after 20 years at the helm. De Wever, now Prime Minister of Belgium, was succeeded by Valerie Van Peel, who won the leadership with 96 percent of the vote. According to VRT NWS coverage of the transition, Van Peel faces the monumental task of uniting a party that had known only one leader for two decades, while De Wever remains the party’s dominant public figure as Prime Minister.

Electoral Pressures Mount

The internal turmoil comes at a precarious electoral moment. Polling data from June 2026, reported by HLN, shows Vlaams Belang overtaking N-VA as the largest party in Flanders for the first time since the 2024 elections, with 26.6 percent against N-VA’s 22.3 percent. An internal N-VA source told De Standaard: “This blunder over student transport is going to cost us electorally. It comes across as so antisocial.”

Implications for Government Stability

N-VA governs in coalition at both the federal and Flemish levels. Internal disagreements between N-VA ministers have already affected the functioning of the Flemish government, and further divisions could threaten coalition stability. The party faces an existential strategic question: should it move further right to counter Vlaams Belang, or maintain its position as a responsible governing party?

What’s Next

The coming months will test whether Valerie Van Peel can establish her authority and bridge the growing ideological divides within the party. Key questions remain: Is this a temporary crisis or a permanent shift? Can the N-VA reconcile its nationalist base with the compromises required by government participation? And how will the dual leadership dynamic between Van Peel and Prime Minister De Wever evolve? The answers will shape not only the future of Belgium’s largest party but the stability of the country’s government itself.