Facilitator appointed to break Brussels government formation deadlock
Yvan Verougstraete has been appointed facilitator by four parties: Groen (the greens) Vooruit (the socialists), CD&V (the christians democrats) and Les Engagés (the centre-right). The president of Les Engagés has been tasked with unblocking the formation of a new Brussels regional government. Verougstraete announced the appointment on Wednesday.
Despite repeated attempts to form one since the June 2024 elections, Brussels has been without a new government for 14 months. This has been described as the most challenging process in the region's history. Talks have stalled due to the French-speaking Socialist Party's (PS) refusal to work with the Flemish nationalist N-VA. The liberal MR is also reluctant, insisting on conditions similar to those used in other regional and federal negotiations — a stance that has added to the friction.
“Brussels, in all its diversity and dynamism, is crucial for our country. We cannot allow it to stagnate or be paralysed by political deadlock,” said Verougstraete. “It is our duty to give Brussels residents what they are entitled to: an ambitious vision, strong executive leadership and solutions to everyday challenges.”
Positive project
Verougstraete’s task is to bring together as many parties as possible willing to discuss a “positive project” for the capital. Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, he will hold bilateral talks with all the democratic parties with the aim of quickly drafting a balanced outline and identifying which parties are ready to open formal negotiations.
The approach is to first agree on a common programme, and then build the necessary majority around it. If an immediate double majority cannot be achieved, the four appointing parties plan to continue developing the programme while maintaining open lines of communication with parties not currently involved. The highly fragmented political landscape, compounded by the emergence of parties such as Team Ahidar and the far-left PTB, makes forging a workable coalition increasingly difficult.
Unique power-sharing system
Under Brussels' unique power-sharing system, both language groups - the French- and Dutch-speaking communities - must secure their own majority before forming a joint government together. Once both sides have agreed, they negotiate a coalition agreement setting out the priorities and policy direction for the next term.
The regional government consists of a minister president, four ministers (two per language group) and three state secretaries, one of whom must be Dutch-speaking and aligned with ministers of the same linguistic group.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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