Negotiators from Groen, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), Open VLD and Vooruit held what they described as a "constructive" three-hour meeting on Monday evening on the formation of a Dutch-speaking majority for the government of Brussels Region.
Negotiators said after the meeting that certain fundamental issues had finally been addressed, and that things could therefore move forward quickly.
Elke Van den Brandt, Groen's leader in Brussels, presented an initial proposal to her colleagues Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA), Frédéric De Gucht (Open VLD) and Ans Persoons (Vooruit) on Monday last. The other negotiators then gave their comments on Thursday, and things seemed to be on the right track.
However, the growing optimism that a majority would soon be found on the Dutch-speaking side to enable the formation of the Brussels Government suffered a blow on Friday, when Elke Van den Brandt and French-speaking formateur David Leisterh (MR) acknowledged that a Parti Socialiste (PS) veto against the N-VA could lead to a deadlock.
The four Flemish negotiators met again at around 6 p.m. on Monday. At the end of the meeting, at around 9 p.m., several negotiators spoke of a constructive meeting on the substance, which could soon lead to an agreement to join the Brussels government.
No details were given so as not to jeopardise the progress of the discussions.
