In the United States, Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden can barely agree to share a debate stage.
In Belgium, politicians facing off on Sunday in the country’s most hotly contested general election in years have agreed to produce a four-part reality show to be filmed over the weekend and set in the castle, moat included.
The show, called “The Conclave,” a political version of “The Bachelor,” has riveted Belgians ahead of national and local elections that coincide with the European Parliament elections this weekend, when all 27 member states of the European Union will vote.
Like many other European countries, Belgium has seen its mainstream political establishment shrink in elections and the far right rise to power.
But for Belgium, the dynamics are further complicated by the division between the French-speaking Wallonia region in the south and the Dutch-speaking Flanders region in the north.
The show’s concept focuses on the personal dynamics of rival politicians who must ultimately work together to curb the rise of the far right, and perhaps having them spend a few days together could help iron out some of their differences.
At the very least, the show succeeded in airing the discontent that has propelled the far-right, anti-immigration Flemish separatist party Vlaams Belang to the front of the elections. A victory for the party could catapult Flemish independence to the top of the political agenda, threatening to split the country in two and creating a crisis for Belgium.
Whether the show succeeds in encouraging real-world cooperation is another matter: The political mainstream has long struggled to unite on key occasions, and Belgium famously took record time to form a shaky multi-party coalition.
The rapid rise of the Vlames Belang made the task more urgent and difficult.
Set against the stunning grounds and opulent interiors of medieval castle Gempe, journalist Eric Goens will host seven prominent politicians from Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, in a “conclave.”
They go for walks in the woods, they cook, they eat together, and they argue.
There are moments of conflict and reconciliation, awkward silences and barely concealed disgust, even a solo confessional interview in the chapel.
The seven include Flemish Verandah party leader Tom van Grieken, the liberal current prime minister Alexander de Croo and Petra de Sutter, a member of the Green Party and one of the country’s deputy prime ministers, the European Union’s highest-ranking transgender politician.
Allies are political
Vlaams Belang, which translates to “Vlemish Interest”, was one of a series of far-right European parties that capitalised on anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe. Originally called the Vlemish Bloc, the party promoted the return of second- and third-generation Belgians, the descendants of immigrants, to their homeland.
In 2004, the party was found guilty of violating Belgium’s anti-racism laws and banned from standing in elections.
The party has since changed its name and image, but critics say little else has changed. Belgium, a wealthy northern European country of 11 million people, has a sizable immigrant community, including Muslims with North African roots, who remain the party’s main target.
Because of this, all other parties in Belgium have made a long-standing vow never to govern with the Vlaams Belang. The question is whether they will keep that promise if, as expected, the Vlaams Belang becomes the largest party in Sunday’s election.
Equally pressing, the party wants the northern region of Flanders, home to around 60 percent of Belgium’s population, to secede from the Belgian federation and form its own state.
How to control Van Grieken’s popularity is perhaps the most pressing issue for Bart de Wever, head of the conservative Flemish nationalist party, the New Flemish Union, who was also among the politicians taking part in the “conclave”.
Van Grieken hopes that the two parties can join forces to form a Flemish government that can then be used as a stepping stone to eventually force independence for Flanders.
De Wever also wants independence for Flanders but calls the secession plan a “fantasy.” A self-described pragmatist, he ran on a platform of handing over more powers from the federal government to the Belgian regions, including Flanders.
Tensions between the two men explode in a fireside scene reminiscent of a reality TV drama.
In the evening, Van Grieken was sitting outside relaxing by the campfire when De Wever came outside.
“Did you start a campfire here?” asked Mr. de Wever.
“Yes, it’s these woke books I want to ban, Bert,” Van Grieken laughs.
“I see that everyone has fallen asleep,” says Mr. de Wever, looking around awkwardly.
“They don’t want to spend time with us, Bert,” Mr. Van Gleeken said. “Your fate is that you always end up with me.”
It’s a scenario the entire Belgian political establishment wants to avoid. De Wever shares his contempt for Vlaams-Veran but has long been ambivalent about whether he will keep his pledge never to collude with the party.
In another scene, a fellow politician presses Mr. de Wever: Is he really going to sleep with Vlaams Veran?
“As I said, no,” de Wever finally admitted. “I can’t work with people who don’t respect democracy. I’m sorry, but this is pretty fundamental.”
The conversation foreshadows the intense negotiations that are almost certain to ensue after Sunday’s election, and for viewers, the show offers a rare glimpse into the country’s chaotic politics.
“You might start to understand why things are so difficult between Leader 1 and Leader 2,” show host Goens said in an interview. “Those are very deep issues that you never see in a normal debate.”
Malice
The conclave shows that differences among Belgium’s leaders go far beyond ideology: deep scars remain from protracted post-election negotiations in the past.
Current Prime Ministers De Croo and De Wever are both supporters of liberal economic policies and are expected to be natural political partners.
But the two men clashed in previous coalition talks, with De Wever accusing De Clos of underhandedly undermining his interests.
“I’m not really looking forward to this because there is a feud between us,” De Wever told the cameras before confronting De Croo.
When the two finally sit down together, Mr. De Croo tries to convince them that this time they can work together, but the conversation falls back on old grievances.
“To work together you need a certain level of trust and credibility,” De Wever told De Croo. “And that’s totally lacking.”
Mr. De Croo eventually gave in and said, “Well, let’s get this over with.”
“I think we’re starting to say things that we’ll regret,” de Wever said.
De Croo tries to end on a positive note.
“I’m not a vindictive person,” he said. “If this is about strengthening the country for all Belgians, and not dividing the country, then we can work together.”
That remains to be seen.
