The Flemish Parliament opens the new parliamentary year today, but prospective Minister-President Matthias Diependaele will not give the customary September Declaration due to an incomplete coalition agreement between the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V), and Vooruit.
The new parliamentary year traditionally begins on the fourth Monday of September and is marked by the September Declaration, in which the government outlines its policies and budget for the upcoming year.
However, over 100 days after the regional elections on 9 June, there is still no new Flemish government. N-VA, CD&V, and Vooruit, led by formator Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), have been negotiating a coalition agreement for weeks.
Last night, the parties reached a crucial budgetary agreement, but the 23 September deadline came too soon for a fully detailed coalition agreement.
This is not the first time a new government has missed the opening session deadline. In 2019, Minister-President Jan Jambon delivered his policy statement on 2 October.
As a result, today’s opening session will be shorter than usual. Filip Dewinter (Vlaams Belang - far-right Flemish party), the longest-serving parliamentarian, will open the session.
Most of the 124 members will then return home, awaiting the formation of a new Flemish government, with only a Bureau (the parliament’s executive committee) meeting to discuss the subsequent work schedule.
