Brussels equals government formation record amid protests against continuing deadlock
541 days after the elections of 9 June 2024, Brussels still has no prospect of a new government. On Monday, the region equalled the record set by the federal government formation in 2010-2011, which remains the official world record for the longest government negotiations. The citizens' initiative Respect Brussels organised a demonstration to denounce the continuing deadlock.
Monday marks 541 days since Brussels went to the polls. The region thus equals the record set by the federal formation in 2010-2011, which ultimately led to the Elio Di Rupo government, and will break the formation record in Belgium on Tuesday.
This will not be an official world record, as Guinness World Records decided a few years ago that this category would remain reserved for sovereign states. The decision was made in response to the protracted crisis in Northern Ireland, where it took 729 days to form a new government. Belgium therefore remains the world record holder.
It also does not look like there will be a new Brussels government any time soon. Last week, MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez made another attempt to form a coalition without the French-speaking socialists of PS, but without success.
Meanwhile, Brussels' acting Budget minister, Dirk De Smedt, is warning of a shutdown in April. The region's financial situation is so precarious that a temporary shutdown of certain public services cannot be ruled out. Many non-profit organisations in Brussels have already lost their subsidies, investments have been postponed and many construction sites have been blocked.
Belfius bank has withdrawn its cash credit line of 500 million euros and no longer wishes to act as the region's house banker. For weeks, there have been fears that ING will also close a similar credit line of half a billion euros. For a government, such credit lines are crucial to be able to continue spending in the short term.
On Monday, more than 500 Brussels residents protested against this ongoing impasse at Place Saint-Jean, near the Brussels Parliament. They chanted slogans and booed the politicians before marching to the parliament.
Several speakers from Brussels' cultural and social community fear that they and the region are heading for disaster. “Without political leadership, there is no certainty,” they said. “The absence of politics means the destruction of the social and cultural fabric of the region.”
Economist and philosopher Philippe Van Parijs declared that “a government must be formed urgently because of the budget”. “It won't be pleasant, but the decisions must be made now, because later it will be even worse,” he told the demonstration. “The current impasse is really about mutual trust. Politicians must compromise.”
Protest action by Respect Brussels against the deadlocked Brussels government negotiations © BELGA PHOTO / VIDEO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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