Facilitator Verougstraete proposes seven-party Brussels government without N-VA
Brussels facilitator Yvan Verougstraete has unveiled a plan to break the 15-month deadlock in forming a new regional government. He has put forward a seven-party coalition that would exclude the Flemish nationalists of N-VA.
Under his proposal, the coalition would unite MR (liberal), PS (socialist), Les Engagés, Groen (Greens), Open VLD (liberal), Vooruit (socialist) and CD&V (Christian democrats). To secure Dutch-speaking support, francophone parties MR and PS would each give up a secretary of state post. CD&V would gain a position, while another seat would be filled by a figure from civil society.
To address N-VA’s exclusion, Verougstraete suggested the party could act as an observer in the Common Community Commission (COCOM), the body that manages bilingual competencies in Brussels such as health, culture and social services.
The proposal was unveiled at a press conference after two weeks of bilateral talks. Verougstraete hopes formateur David Leisterh (MR) can convene the seven parties on Tuesday or Wednesday.
He confirmed that MR has accepted the compromise. PS and Open VLD have not yet given a final answer. The key question remains whether Open VLD will agree to drop N-VA, its longstanding demand, in exchange for a ministerial post under Verougstraete’s formula.
Brussels facilitator Yvan Verougstraete © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
Related news
