Dutch-speaking parties to restart talks after Brussels formation hits new deadlock
Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) is inviting the Dutch-speaking parties one by one in an attempt to revive the formation process. Her spokeswoman confirmed the news, first reported by Bruzz. The move comes after Brussels politics were thrown back into uncertainty on Wednesday.
Brussels formation talks ground to halt once again this week, when MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez announced that he was opening the door to any democratic party to form a Brussels government, claiming the PS had ruled itself out. Brussels PS president Ahmed Laaouej had previously stepped away from the talks after Open VLD president Frédéric De Gucht said the PS was behaving "humiliatingly".
The appeal of Bouchez, who took over as formateur from party colleague David Leisterh, was met with little enthusiasm by other parties. Ecolo said it would not respond to Bouchez’s call. DéFI, meanwhile, accused "the self-appointed formateur Bouchez" to not conduct respectful negotiations. Finally, Ans Persoons (Vooruit) urged PS and Groen to take the lead in the formation process instead.
Van den Brandt tried to to do so on Thursday. To revive the formation process, the Groen leader in Brussels is inviting the Dutch-speaking parties for one by one talks. "The people of Brussels deserve better," said Van den Brandt, who, as leader of the largest Dutch-speaking party in Brussels, acts as formateur for the Dutch-language group.
Brussels risks shutdown
Before Bouchez's statement on Wednesday, Van den Brandt had said she would argue at Thursday’s council of ministers that the current caretaker government should take a firmer hand in ongoing dossiers. One option, she noted, would be for the government itself to table an emergency budget.
That is sorely needed, as Brussels is in danger of shutting down, according to Brussels Finance minister Dirk De Smedt. On Wednesday, it was reported that ING would follow Belfius in not extending its credit line of 500 million euros for the Brussels Capital Region in 2026.
While the bank later denied any decision has already been made, De Smedt said he is assuming the bank will not continue its contract next year. And that could be disastrous for Brussels, according to the minister: "Without adequate replacement (...) we risk a shutdown in which the Region can no longer pay its bills on time."
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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