Belgium’s day brought a goalless night for the Red Devils, fresh political tensions and a definitive break between Jinnih Beels and Vooruit. Meanwhile, fire restrictions took effect in Wallonia as controversies continued to draw attention.
Kyriani Sabbe and Malick Fofana are again absent from the Belgium squad. Koni De Winter replaces Arthur Theate. Belgium play France tonight after a promising start against Italy. The national team are again facing a strong opponent.
The Red Devils shared the points with France (0-0) on Monday night at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. France’s Désiré Doué came close to opening the scoring, but his effort was denied by the crossbar. The result came three days after Belgium’s 0-2 win in Italy to open the Nations League.
Monday evening’s Belgium-France match at King Baudouin Stadium will pit coaches Mark van Bommel and Zinédine Zidane against each other. The two men previously faced one another on the pitch during their playing careers. At a press conference, the French coach teased his Dutch counterpart by recalling the “little kicks” he used to give him.
Vooruit is definitively parting ways with Jinnih Beels, a former alderwoman in Antwerp. The party is working out an arrangement under which Beels will lose her mandate as an Antwerp provincial executive, allowing Vooruit to fill the position again. Beels will remain an independent provincial councillor. This formally ends her cooperation with the party.
On Monday, Mediapart reported antisemitic writings dating from 2013 and attributed to Jordan Bardella, then a Front National activist. The president of the National Rally formally disputes their authenticity and calls them “blatant forgeries.” The case concerns texts linked to Bardella’s early years, which he presents as fabricated rather than genuine statements.
Nico Courtens, a Vlaams Belang municipal councillor in Menin, appeared on “Naked Attraction Vlaanderen,” a dating show where contestants appear naked. He signed up without informing his party, which reacted angrily. The appearance has embarrassed the party, which was not involved in the decision.
A ban on making fires and smoking is in force in Wallonia because of the increased fire risk. The measure comes as Europe grapples with heatwaves and wildfires. Flooding in Asia and typhoons around the Indian Ocean have also contributed to extreme weather for weeks. The developments are being followed in a live blog.
The Flemish government again held overnight negotiations during budget talks, a persistent political tradition. Negotiation expert Dirk Van Poucke calls the ritual abnormal and warns of the physical and mental toll. During these talks, a Vooruit chief of staff and Minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V) became unwell. He calls night work an assault on politicians’ lives.
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