A Dutch-speaking coalition of four parties – ecologists Groen, right-wing N-VA, liberals Open VLD and socialists Vooruit – is prepared to start negotiations for the formation of the Brussels Government. This was confirmed by the cabinet of formator Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) on Thursday.
Nearly six months after the regional elections on 9 June, Van den Brandt has succeeded in forming a majority on the Dutch-speaking side. Together, the four parties hold ten of the 17 seats for Dutch speakers in the Brussels Parliament. Finding a majority is complicated as there are only three ministerial positions to distribute between a coalition comprising four parties.
This would leave one party without a minister or state secretary, and therefore without a say in government decisions. This is why Christian democrats CD&V previously turned down the invitation to join.
Several weeks ago, the N-VA joined the table instead and the four parties held talks to see if and how their programmes matched up. The talks concluded on Thursday morning.
Open and transparent discussions
The discussions took place based on a 'framework note', the contents of which were published in the media this week. "However, this was a starting point after analysing the four parties' programmes. It does not constitute a package of demands for the negotiations," Van den Brandt's cabinet stressed in a press release.
As is customary, the formation texts that will form the actual starting point of a future coalition agreement will be put on the table by the future Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region. This is likely to be the French-speaking formator and Brussels MR leader David Leisterh.
"We understand that there are still sensitivities that will have to be clarified between the various partners of the future Brussels Government. This is only the starting point of many discussions to be held with the French-speaking coalition partners MR, PS and Les Engagés," the press release read. "It is essential that issues are discussed openly and transparently."
Now, the Dutch-speaking parties are asking Leisterh to begin negotiations, in which all of this can be discussed together with the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking coalition partners.
