Parties expect Flemish government formation to be completed 'at the end of this week'
According to CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi, the Flemish government formation talks are in the final stretch. "Basically, we should be done sometime at the end of this week," he told the Flemish Parliament on Monday afternoon.
The three parties - Vooruit, CD&V and N-VA - reached an agreement on the Flemish budget on Monday morning, an important step in the formation of the next regional government. Details aren't yet known, but Mahdi said that "we have created additional budgetary space to invest in what is essential for the people".
This includes investment in education and affordable housing, according to Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau. "We have found a way to have a healthy budget, but also to keep the Flemish people healthy," he told VRT on Monday.
"We have created additional budgetary space to invest in what is essential for the people"
Non-budgetary bottlenecks
Talks will continue on Tuesday on the remaining non-budgetary bottlenecks. "There are a lot of issues in all sorts of departments, but we have had good talks in the last few days and I am convinced that we are moving closer together," Mahdi said.
Among the issues under discussion is the possible reintroduction of compulsory voting in local and provincial elections. Voting will not be compulsory for the first time in the 13 October municipal elections. Vooruit wants to reverse this decision taken by the previous government, while N-VA and CD&V want to wait and assess the results of the elections.
Federal formation slows down
Meanwhile, the formation of a federal government is progressing at a slower pace, mainly due to the upcoming municipal elections. King Philippe extended the mandate of Bart De Wever as formateur until 17 October, but little progress is expected before then.
De Wever has expressed his ambition to have the budget voted on in the House of Representatives before the end of the year. This means that the new government with N-VA, Vooruit, CD&V, MR and Les Engagés should be in place well before then.
#FlandersNewsService | CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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