Once a coalition agreement is in place for the Brussels Government, MR will stick to it, promised party leader David Leisterh. Previously, Dutch-speaking formator Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) insisted on guarantees that the French-speaking parties would respect green issues in the coming five years.
The French-speaking majority in Brussels (liberal MR, socialist PS and centrist Les Engagés) want to put a proposal to the Brussels Parliament to push back the tightening of the emissions standard for Brussels' Low Emission Zone (LEZ) from early 2025 to early 2027.
When that news broke, Van den Brandt called it a "bombshell" on the Brussels formation and a fundamental breach of trust. She sought assurances that the French speakers would not invariably disregard the core issues of the Greens over the next five years.
"She is right. From the moment we have an administrative agreement, there will be a framework. And we are never going to go outside that framework," Leisterh said on Flemish radio on Tuesday. "But now, there is no framework, and there is not even a majority on both sides to negotiate such a governance agreement."
Moving forward
The issue is on the Dutch-speaking side: Groen, socialist Vooruit and liberal Open VLD have to look for a fourth partner to find a majority, but this is no easy matter. With four parties but only three ministerial positions to divide, the smallest one will join the government without a minister.
Christian Democrats CD&V, who would be the fourth and smallest party, do not want to join for this reason. Others, such as MR, have vetoed working with Team Fouad Ahidar. Rightwing N-VA has stated it is willing to join the negotiations, but the ideological differences with Groen are likely too big.
"I know it is very difficult on the Flemish side and I know [Van den Brandt] is doing her best to form that government, but we have to move forward," Leisterh said.
Groen's Elke Van den Brandt (left) and MR's David Leisterh (right). Credit: Belga
After all, a budget is needed soon. He hopes – "I think I am the only one" – that an administrative agreement can still be reached before the municipal elections on 13 October. "I still have to remain a bit naive and optimistic."
Meanwhile, PS negotiator Ahmed Laaouej argued that Brussels institutions should be reformed to avoid such problems in the future.
"We need bilingual lists and one electoral college, as in the municipalities, which includes French-speaking and Dutch-speaking candidates."
