Brussels government formation: Flemish socialists and greens ask MR for another approach
Flemish socialist party Vooruit and the Flemish greens of Groen are both asking MR to take a different approach to break the political deadlock in Brussels. French-speaking liberal party MR last week presented a draft policy declaration in a new effort to start forming a new Brussels regional government, nearly a year after the June 2024 elections.
Nearly a year after the elections, Brussels still doesn't have a new government, because multiple parties are vetoing potential coalition combinations. While the French-speaking socialists of PS last week held exploratory talks to form a left-wing coalition, MR sent most parties a draft policy declaration addressing challenges such as public finances, security and cleanliness, the economy, and mobility. If only minor changes to the text are needed to secure a majority, MR would launch formal talks immediately. Otherwise, the text would be debated in the Brussels parliament.
The Flemish socialists are not happy with this method. Ans Persoons, Brussels leader of Vooruit, sees no point in a discussion of the text in parliament. “The public nature of the debates will only strengthen political disagreements and divisions,” she argued. “Negotiations must take place on equal terms and in confidence, according to a clear, discreet method defined in advance by all negotiators.” For her, a key element is determining the interlocutors. “It seems pointless to us to spend weeks debating a text that does not have a majority in parliament.”
Persoons urges the MR to take a different approach. “It seems appropriate to us to quickly convene the parties necessary to form a majority, to agree together on a different method and to present a multiannual budget table in order to correctly assess the impact of the proposals.”
“It seems pointless to us to spend weeks debating a text that does not have a majority in parliament”
Groen responded along the same lines. “MR's text makes it clear how MR sees the future, but you of course don't write a coalition agreement alone,” said Groen leader Bart Dhondt. “To form a government now, we need to go to the table so that the other parties can also put their points on the table.” Earlier, Brussels Groen leader Elke Van den Brandt had expressed her desire for “firm adjustments” to the text concerning climate, mobility or social policy. She therefore asked the MR to “organise real consultations”.
“MR's text makes it clear how MR sees the future, but you of course don't write a coalition agreement alone”
The Brussels leader of the Christian Democratic party CD&V, Benjamin Dalle, called on MR and PS to stop their “trench warfare” and initiatives in the media. He asked both parties to return to the negotiating table and talk to all partners who together can form a stable majority.
Open VLD and N-VA believe MR’s text is a good starting point for negotiations.
Ans Persoons, Brussels leader of Vooruit © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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