Van den Bossche slams Brussels PS as Bouchez hints at imminent deal

In her first 11 July address as Flemish parliament speaker, Freya Van den Bossche (Vooruit) strongly criticised the Brussels Socialist Party (PS) and its leader Ahmed Laaouej for blocking a Dutch-speaking majority coalition that includes the N-VA.

More than a year after the 2024 elections, Brussels still lacks a regional government. Van den Bossche called the PS veto “difficult to understand” in the current climate of political and global instability. “Brussels continues to gaze at its own navel as if the world beyond its borders doesn’t exist”, she said.

Laaouej has repeatedly rejected any coalition involving N-VA, calling it “unacceptable.” Van den Bossche countered that this undermines democratic results and the principle of self-governance for Flemish Brussels residents.

“Brussels continues to gaze at its own navel as if the world beyond its borders doesn’t exist”

The speech comes amid rising tensions between Vooruit and the Brussels PS, with repeated clashes between Laaouej and Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau.

Van den Bossche urged both language groups in Brussels to “bury the hatchet” and respect each other’s right to form autonomous majorities.

However, a breakthrough may be near. Speaking just hours later at the same event, MR party chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez announced that a solution for the Brussels impasse could be on the table “within hours.”

Bouchez confirmed that behind-the-scenes negotiations are progressing well and aim to form a Brussels government with a majority in both language groups. “Brussels needs a government, and more urgently, a budget. Without that, we risk financial collapse”, he told Villa Politica. While he acknowledged that a coalition including PS is “not ideal”, he said it’s necessary to respect last year’s election results. 

Bouchez avoided direct criticism of Laaouej, despite many blaming him for the deadlock. “We have to stop pointing fingers at the so-called main obstacle”, he said.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Flemish parliament chairwoman Freya Van den Bossche © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}