Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has announced his resignation following a significant defeat in the European Union elections, which saw a surge in victories for right-wing parties across several European countries on Sunday.
De Croo, leader of the liberal Open VLD party, decided to step down after his party secured just 6 percent of the vote. The prime minister appeared to be on the verge of tears following the election results.
"Tomorrow I will resign as prime minister," de Croo said, as 90 percent of the votes had been counted. However, De Croo remained positive for his party, stating, “The Liberals are strong, we will return.”
This decision aligns with recent trends in France, Germany, and Austria, where right-wing parties have gained substantial ground, particularly by opposing mass immigration, advocating for the nuclear family, and endorsing economically conservative values.
While Belgium saw overwhelming support for right-wing politics, the country did not veer as far right as expected. Despite predictions that the far-right, anti-immigration Vlaams Belang party would become the dominant political force in Belgium, the nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) maintained its leading position, securing an expected 22 percent of the votes, according to the Daily Mail.
De Croo's resignation follows closely on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron's decision on Sunday to dissolve parliament and call for new legislative elections after a significant victory for the right-wing National Rally party in France.
Marine Le Pen, a member of France’s National Rally party, applauded the “historic vote,” saying that her party is “ready to exercise power, to end mass migration, to prioritise purchasing power, ready to make France live again."
