De Gucht’s remarks on ‘shutdown’ strain Brussels coalition talks

Tensions have flared again among the parties negotiating a new Brussels regional government after Open VLD chair Frédéric De Gucht warned of a potential shutdown of Brussels institutions. In response, Brussels PS leader Ahmed Laaouej called the comments “unacceptable and unworthy of a negotiating partner”.

De Gucht, speaking on the Flemish public broadcaster’s current affairs programme Terzake on Tuesday evening, warned that a shutdown in April or May was a “real possibility”. He also accused the PS of being “addicted to spending”.

In his response, Laaouej said that the remarks were "not an isolated incident", but "a new episode in a series of hostile acts and statements against the Brussels PS and Francophones in general".

Financing and liquidity buffers

De Gucht is not the first to sound the alarm. Last week, the new Brussels Budget minister Dirk De Smedt (Open VLD) issued a similar warning about the possibility of a shutdown. He said that the caretaker government was doing everything possible to protect, and where feasible expand, its financing and liquidity buffers.

However, he confirmed that these resources could be depleted within six to seven months, meaning funds could run out by April or May 2026.

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Laaouej’s objections extend beyond the dispute over the shutdown. He accused Open VLD of supporting an N-VA resolution that would introduce a double-majority rule in Brussels while excluding the Flemish CD&V from negotiations for nine weeks. He also criticised the liberals' proposal to appoint a Budget minister who would require the support of only nine Dutch-speaking MPs out of 89. He said that these manoeuvres show “how far De Gucht is prepared to go to force through his political plans”.

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The Socialist leader claimed that the prolonged political deadlock in Brussels, which is now more than a year ongoing, was “the direct consequence of Frédéric De Gucht’s obstinacy in imposing his coalition blueprint without respect for dialogue”. He added that Open VLD had “never participated in the ongoing budget talks in good faith”.

^{© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}