The Flemish Government negotiations are gaining momentum as formator Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), socialist Vooruit and Christian Democrat CD&V reached an agreement on the coalition's budgetary framework late last night.
At the start of the negotiations in June, Diependaele had put 23 September – the day of the traditional September declaration, which marks the start of Flanders' new Parliamentary year – forward as the deadline for a new government. While a full coalition agreement has not yet been reached, the parties did settle on the most important negotiating point: the budget.
"We have just reached an agreement in principle on the budgetary framework of the coalition agreement," Diependaele posted on social media around 03:30, after a night of negotiations. "In the coming days, we will negotiate further on the remaining substantive sticking points."
We hebben zonet een principieel akkoord bereikt over het budgettaire kader van het regeerakkoord.
De komende dagen gaan we verder onderhandelen over de resterende inhoudelijke knelpunten. — Matthias Diependaele (@MDiependaele) September 23, 2024
This means that the parties have agreed on how much money will go to the various policy areas in the coming years. What those agreements are and whether N-VA will stick to its aim of having a balanced budget in 2027 is unclear for now.
"Important shifts have happened," CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi told VRT when leaving the meeting last night. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau said on Instagram that "steps in the right direction" were taken on the topics of education, welfare and public transport.
With the establishment of the budget framework, one of the most difficult hurdles towards a final agreement has been overcome, as setting a budgets implies substantive policy choices.
"This puts us one step closer to a government. A lot of things have been talked through very thoroughly. The strictly calculated data table is a great advantage for the coming years," said Diependaele, who was the budget minister in the previous Flemish Government.
Quick landing?
There is no unanimity on some major topics that have less impact on the budget, such as the future of the provinces. The highly contentious nitrogen dossier – the source of long discussions for the previous Flemish Government – is also still on the table.
"We still have a lot of blockages to clear," Diependaele said. He did not want to make any more statements about a deadline for a final agreement.
CD&V, however, thinks the parties are close to a full agreement. "We should use the week that comes now well to go through the text and discuss the sticking points," Mahdi said. Vooruit is even talking about having the job done by next weekend. "We will work hard in the coming days to work out the last sticking points and we hope to land this week," Rousseau said.
The negotiators will continue talks at 17:00. Just before that, the Flemish Parliament will meet. There will be no September declaration until there is a new government.
