Open VLD re-emerges as potential coalition partner after government talks collapse

Flemish liberal party Open VLD may be invited to join the federal government negotiations after all. Discord between the five parties that have been in talks for months reached a new peak on Monday, leading some to consider inviting a new party to the table.

Formateur Bart De Wever submitted his resignation to the King on Monday after talks to form a new federal government reached an impasse. King Philippe has given De Wever until 12 November to hold further talks before deciding on his resignation.

Negotiations have been under way since the country held elections on 9 June. De Wever was appointed to lead the talks as his party, Flemish nationalists N-VA, emerged as the strongest.

But the centre-right alliance De Wever has been trying to form between five parties has suffered serious cracks in recent weeks. After a final meeting with party leaders on Monday to try to break the deadlock, De Wever handed in his resignation.

Avoiding systemic crisis

On Friday, the Flemish socialist party Vooruit rejected a policy text that was to serve as a basis for further talks. The party's leader, Conner Rousseau, argued that Vooruit could not agree to a coalition that prioritised conservative fiscal reforms and tax breaks, fearing they would put social security and pensions at risk. 

The four remaining parties – N-VA, MR, Les Engagés and CD&V – will now continue talks and examine the possibility of adding a fifth partner needed to form a majority, one of the negotiators said on Monday. 

The remaining parties are increasingly looking at Open VLD as a possible fifth partner, De Standaard reported on Monday. "This seems to be the only alternative to avoid a long systemic crisis," one of the negotiators told the newspaper.

Razor-thin majority

There are few other possible coalition partners for the negotiating parties. Even so, the party of outgoing prime minister Alexander De Croo is not an obvious choice. Open VLD suffered a heavy defeat in the June elections, and a coalition with the party would only give the government a razor-thin majority in the Chamber of Representatives.

Although the party is ideologically closer to the four parties continuing the talks, it is also possible that these parties will continue to seek a compromise with the more left-wing Vooruit, which has not completely closed the door to the negotiating room.

"Vooruit always wants to take its responsibility," Rousseau said on Monday on VRT's Terzake programme. "Even in difficult moments. But only if the content is right and the burdens are shared fairly."

Missed opportunity

Sammy Mahdi, leader of Flemish Christian democrats CD&V, reacted with disappointment to Vooruit's rejection of the negotiating text. "This is definitely a historic missed opportunity that we will probably regret for a long time," he said.

Despite the criticism, Mahdi does not seem to be writing off a coalition with the socialists just yet. "We will continue to adopt a constructive attitude in the coming weeks to enable a government with a stable majority, and we call on all parties to adopt the same attitude," he said.

^{Bart De Wever leaves the Royal Palace after a meeting with King Philippe, 4 November 2024 © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}