Flemish government formation stalls as parties reject new proposal
Bilateral talks on Thursday showed that there remains a gap between the three parties negotiating the formation of a new Flemish government. A proposal put forward by formateur Matthias Diependaele of Flemish nationalist party N-VA was found wanting by the other parties.
Diependaele's proposal is "insufficient to go to the next stage of negotiations", Conner Rousseau, leader of socialists Vooruit, said on Thursday. "Too little will change in education, we will not help enough people in welfare and there is too little ambition to get more buses running in our cities and towns," he said.
'Totally insufficient'
After his previous note was rejected earlier this week, Diependaele presented a revised note to both parties on Thursday, hoping to find enough common ground to start plenary negotiations. Both parties emerged from the talks saying that the adjustments made were still lacking.
The new note was "totally insufficient for the next step" in the Flemish formation, said CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi. "The will is there, but the substance is not," he said, pointing to shortcomings in areas such as welfare and investing in vulnerable and young people.
Constructive and optimistic
Rousseau added that he remained constructive and optimistic. "This happens sometimes in all negotiations. We have been talking for two months now in a good atmosphere and everyone is doing their best, but this is not enough," he said.
Mahdi also called for negotiations to continue, saying he still believed a "good agreement" was possible before the local elections on 13 October. Yet it remains to be seen whether and how Diependaele can revive negotiations.
Diependaele was reluctant to comment on the fact that both parties had rejected his revised note as a basis for further talks. "We have taken note of the positions of Vooruit and CD&V and are considering the next steps to be taken," his entourage said on Thursday.
#FlandersNewsService | CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi arrives in Brussels for bilateral talks on the formation of a new Flemish government © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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