Talks to form the next Federal Government again reached an impasse on Thursday evening, as Vooruit president Conner Rousseau again rejected the economic "supernote" – the document that will ultimately form the basis of a government agreement.
For the Flemish Socialists, the economic reforms outlined are not substantially changed from those that it previously took issue with in earlier versions of the document. The party said it no longer wishes to "waste time with subtexts" and will not continue negotiations unless Bart De Wever (N-VA) presents a new socio-economic plan and a budget framework.
Vooruit insists on going back to the drawing board to work out a completely new socio-economic plan and a new budget framework for negotiations. In a statement shortly after Thursday's failed meeting, the party made its position clear: "This is the only way to form a new government." But just what this new document would look like is less certain, with no alternative put forward.
Time is short as formator Bart De Wever (N-VA) is due to report on progress – or lack thereof – to King Philippe on Monday 4 November. The Antwerp Mayor has already had his mandate to form a government extended. Since early September the presidents of the five negotiating parties (N-VA, CD&V, MR, Les Engagés, and Vooruit) have discussed key themes: mobility, climate, energy, foreign affairs, defence, security, and immigration.
However the central pillars of disagreement remain socio-economic – especially taxation, employment, and pensions. All parties acknowledge the urgent need for Belgium to fix its ballooning budget, but Vooruit maintains that the current proposals are unbalanced. It wants to look to larger sources of wealth – whether assets held by wealthy individuals or taxes on corporations – to improve Belgium's financial health.
But this has previously put the socialists, the only of the five negotiating parties to the left of the political centre, at odds with the other coalition partners. In August the initial phase of discussions broke down over tensions between Vooruit and MR around capital gains tax.
No other way?
Belgium must present structural reforms to Europe to address its deficit, reduce debt, and secure a seven-year rather than a four-year fiscal consolidation pathway.
Despite many partners expressing their desire to promptly form a Federal Government and not fall prey to the interminable negotiating process that has previously seen Belgium without a government for almost two years, this ambition has been set back by party differences that are proving unworkable. Unless Vooruit can be won over swiftly, the formation risk becoming the third-longest government negotiations.
Political commentators are questioning whether De Wever will "throw in the towel". But the "Arizona" coalition currently in discussions is the only viable way to secure a majority, making it most likely that a new strategy is taken to bring the five parties to an agreement.
"It is hard to see what more De Wever can do," political scientist Nicolas Bouteca told Gazet van Antwerpen. "‘If after three supernotes you still don't manage to get Vooruit on board, there is little chance that a fourth note will change that."
"Vooruit is ready to make tough decisions and to explain them, provided the efforts are justified and the burdens are evenly distributed. Unfortunately, after months of negotiations, this is still not the case," the socialists stated on Thursday.
