Elections 2024: Belgium's German-speaking Community could be first with new government
Representatives of the ProDG and CSP parties met on Monday for initial exploratory talks on a possible coalition in the German-speaking Community's parliament. Although the two parties have a combined majority, they are looking for a third coalition partner.
The German-speaking part of Belgium has only about 78,000 inhabitants and does not play a role in the formation of the federal government, as it is part of the Walloon territory and thus belongs to the Walloon region.
However, because a different language is spoken in East Belgium, it is a separate federal community. The community has the same rights as the Flemish and French communities, including its own elections, government and minister president.
Narrow majority
In Sunday's elections, the regionalist ProDG of incumbent minister president Oliver Paasch emerged as the big winner. Paasch, who has been in post since 2014, announced on the same day that he would first talk to Christian democrats CSP to try to form a government. Together they hold 13 of the 25 seats in parliament.
"The first meeting showed that there are no insurmountable obstacles to such a coalition," a press release said. "The two parties believe there are enough similarities on substantive issues to continue coalition talks in the coming days."
"The first meeting showed that there are no insurmountable obstacles"
Paasch and CSP leader Jérôme Franssen want to form the core of a future coalition, from which further negotiations with the other parties can take place.
The socialists SP, liberals PFF and the greens of Ecolo are seen as possible coalition partners to increase their majority. Paasch said in February that he did not want to form a government with Vivant, the third largest party, because it does not want a more independent German-speaking Community.
With negotiations on the Belgian budget imminent, Paasch and Franssen want to "form a government that can act for our community as soon as possible".
German-speaking Community minister president Oliver Paasch of ProDG © BELGA PHOTO LUCIEN LAMBOTTE
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