Future of Nations Conference in Pretoria will bring together leaders from all over the world

Pretoria – The think tank and advocacy group, Lex Libertas will host the international Future of Nations Conference (FNC) in Pretoria on 25 February 2026. The conference will focus on the future of political order in a rapidly changing world, with particular emphasis on self-governance, decentralisation, and the role of nations and communities.

The FNC will bring together leading international and local political figures, intellectuals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and civil society actors to engage in principled and practical discussions on alternatives to increasingly centralised governance models. According to Lex Libertas, many modern political systems have become disconnected from social, cultural, and economic realities, leading to instability, declining legitimacy, and growing social tension, especially in deeply plural societies.

“The Future of Nations Conference is about confronting reality,” said Dr Ernst Roets, Executive Director of Lex Libertas. “Across the world, centralised political systems are struggling to govern diverse societies. This conference is intended to explore workable, realistic alternatives that respect communities, responsibility, and freedom, rather than abstract ideological models that continue to fail.”

Confirmed speakers

The conference will feature a strong line-up of speakers from South Africa, Europe, and the United States, including:

• Tom van Grieken, Leader of Vlaams Belang in Flanders, and one of Europe’s most prominent advocates for national self-determination, decentralisation, and cultural sovereignty.
• Stefano Forte, President of the New York Young Republican Club, one of the most influential conservative political movements in the United States, with a growing international profile.
• Dr Christoph von Ach, Honorary President of the South Tyrolean Friendship Association for the Afrikaner People.
• Kristof Slagmulder, member of the Flemish Parliament and author of Vlaamse Voetsporen in Zuid-Afrika (Flemish Footprints in South Africa), exploring historical and cultural links between Flanders and South Africa.
• Dawie Roodt, Chief Economist of the Efficient Group and host of the popular current affairs talkshow, Ontbytsake.
• Rob Hersov, renowned South African entrepreneur and investor, and a vocal advocate for economic freedom, private initiative, and resistance to state overreach.
• Prof. Koos Malan, leading South African constitutional jurist and author, widely known for his critique of centralised constitutionalism and his work on constitutional decay and decentralisation.
• Princess Bhelakazi Mabandla, head of royal diplomatic services for the Mabandla Royal Family, and an advocate for traditional authority, cultural sovereignty, and indigenous governance structures.

More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Lex Libertas says the conference forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen research, build domestic and international engagement, and advance informed debate on viable political alternatives for South Africa and other plural societies. The conference programme includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, structured policy conversations, and engagement between international speakers and South African stakeholders.

Media accreditation

Lex Libertas invites members of the media to apply for media accreditation for the Future of Nations Conference. Accredited media will have access to conference sessions, speakers, and designated media facilities.

• Media outlets wishing to attend are requested to apply by sending an email to media@lexlibertas.org.za.

Lex Libertas is a think tank and advocacy group working towards a viable political dispensation in South Africa, based on the principles of freedom, decentralisation, and self-governance.