Liberals optimistic at anniversary congress

The leader of francophone liberals MR has declared that his party will win the next federal elections at an event marking the 180th anniversary of the Belgian Liberal Party.

Despite recent unfavourable polls, Georges-Louis Bouchez remains confident, saying “people will recognise those who have had the courage to take responsibility”.

“Liberalism is the only philosophy in the history of humanity that has worked,” he said, describing it as a philosophy of respect, responsibility and shared wealth. He highlighted “three dangers”: rampant individualism, religious radicalism and political extremism on both left and right.

Under Bouchez’s leadership, the MR achieved a historic victory in 2024’s federal election. With nearly 30 per cent of the vote, it left socialist party PS behind and formed a majority with centrists Les Engagés in Wallonia and at federal level.

However, the latest polls are less healthy. A major poll by Het Laatste Nieuws, VTM, RTL and Le Soir, published on Friday, shows MR with barely 20 per cent of the vote, a long way behind the socialists.

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The president of Flemish liberal party Anders, Frédéric De Gucht, also spoke at Sunday’s event in Brussels. He called for unity within the political family, given that the MR sits in the federal majority and Anders in the opposition.

“Liberal forces can no longer afford the luxury of internal division,” he said, calling for “a united front against populism”. “We either win this fight together or lose it individually.”

Founded in 1846 at a congress at Brussels City Hall, the Belgian Liberal Party is considered the oldest party in mainland Europe. It has changed its name several times: PLP, PRL and then MR on the French-speaking side, PVV, VLD, Open VLD and now Anders on the Dutch-speaking side. The Flemish party became independent from the PLP in 1972.

^{Anders leader Frederic De Gucht and MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez at a celebration in Brussels marking 180 years of Belgian liberalism, 14 June 2025 © BELGA PHOTO EMILE WINDAL}

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