Political turmoil in Brussels: Parliament deadlocked over replacement of Budget minister
Brussels politics have once again descended into disarray, with the regional parliament unable to agree on a replacement for outgoing Budget minister Sven Gatz (Open VLD).
The liberal party is insisting on using a constructive motion of no confidence under Article 36 of the Brussels Act to formalise Gatz’s resignation, but it is currently lacking the necessary signatures within the Dutch-speaking group of the Brussels Parliament.
Open VLD is seeking support from Groen, N-VA and Vooruit. These are the parties with which the liberals hope to form a new majority. Without their backing, the motion will not succeed. This would mean that Gatz may have to remain in office for some time, despite having announced his resignation for health reasons.
Voting only possible next week
Even if the motion were filed, a vote could not take place before next week, as parliamentary rules stipulate a waiting period of 48 hours between submission and voting. Parliamentary president Bertin Mampaka (MR) confirmed that any motion would first be reviewed for admissibility by three legal experts, including an external adviser. Should they disagree, Mampaka said he would refer the matter to the Extended Bureau rather than making a unilateral decision.
On Wednesday, the move by Open VLD regarding Article 36 took coalition partners and Francophone parties by surprise. Although the minister’s health issues were well known, the chosen procedure - rarely used for a caretaker government - raised legal and political concerns.
Vooruit refused to sign unless all Dutch-speaking members were consulted and the French-speaking parties involved in the ongoing budget talks were informed. Fouad Ahidar (TFA) said that he would provide the necessary signatures if asked to do so formally.
Benjamin Dalle of CD&V also criticised the liberals’ interpretation of Article 36, saying it was “not applicable to a government dealing with current affairs”.
Who's responsible?
Outgoing minister-president Rudi Vervoort (PS) said the matter should be settled by parliament rather than the government. Groen argues that it is the responsibility of the Brussels Parliament’s registry to determine the correct procedure, unless a political consensus is reached beforehand.
One Brussels MP said that there are other legal avenues besides Article 36. "Gatz could be replaced through a bill adopted by a double majority in parliament."
Yet, Open VLD considers this route uncertain, as the caretaker Vervoort government no longer commands a majority in parliament or within either language group. For now, the deadlock in Brussels shows no sign of breaking.
© BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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