Hundreds join protest against political deadlock in Brussels
Around 500 people gathered outside the Brussels Stock Exchange on Monday to protest against the political deadlock affecting the capital. One year after the last elections, negotiators still have not formed a new regional government.
On 9 June 2024, Belgians voted in European, federal and regional elections. After a year of unsuccessful negotiations and mutual vetoes, the Brussels-Capital Region still has no fully functioning government. The outgoing government has continued to deal with current affairs, but cannot introduce new policies.
"Brussels deserves a quality government that will prepare the city for the future"
"Our beautiful but ailing capital is being destroyed by administrative incompetence, contempt, baronial politics and party interests," said Daniel Verougstraete and Frederik Lamote, who organised a picnic in the city centre to protest against the deadlock.
'Parties fuel polarisation'
"Brussels deserves a quality government that will prepare the city for the future. The city faces major challenges, including drug-related violence, a housing shortage and unemployment. But above all, political parties are fuelling polarisation," the organisers said.
They argue that the current political impasse proves that the existing structures for Brussels are no longer fit for purpose, including the fact that Dutch-speaking and French-speaking candidates stand on separate electoral lists in the region.
Common project
"Brussels has long ceased to be a city that can be divided into French- and Dutch-speakers. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world," they said. "We share the same streets, the same concerns, the same dreams."
"It is high time that Brussels residents, both Dutch- and French-speakers, shared the same electoral lists and developed a common political vision for their city together," said Lamote. "If French-speaking and Dutch-speaking parties had been on the same lists and had outlined a common project for Brussels beforehand, the negotiations would have ended long ago."
Last week, attempts by the French-speaking liberal party MR to restart coalition talks stalled, as key parties opposed the proposed format and the inclusion of the Flemish nationalist party N-VA. Meanwhile, the French-speaking socialist party PS is leading a separate initiative to establish a left-leaning government in the capital region.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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