After more than 150 days of negotiations, formator Bart De Wever (N-VA) has asked Flemish liberal party Open VLD to join the Federal Government negotiations in a bid to resolve the impasse before next week.
De Wever is scheduled to return to the Royal Palace next Tuesday 12 November after his assignment to form a governing coalition was extended on Monday 4 November. He has been tasked with bringing together the N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V to form the 'Arizona' coalition. But last weekend, Flemish socialists Vooruit rejected the latest version of De Wever's socioeconomic "supernote" – effectively pulling the plug on the government talks.
While some have previously suggested replacing Vooruit with Open VLD to escape the current impasse, this was previously dismissed as the N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, CD&V and Open VLD coalition yields a narrow majority of just 76 (of 150) parliamentary seats. Additionally, it does not have a majority in the Dutch language group.
What's more, Open VLD made it clear immediately after a crushing defeat in the 9 June elections that they would not be part of any government.
A 'special powers' formula?
Open VLD's former leader Egbert Lachaert, still influential in the liberal party, said on Flemish television on Wednesday that no official proposal had yet been made to involve the party in formation talks. He emphasised the need for a "clear and serious" offer, saying the party has no desire to "play relationship therapist" between Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau and De Wever.
On Thursday, De Wever did indeed approach the Flemish liberals to gauge their interest in joining the negotiating table, VRT reports. Eva De Bleeker, current leader of Open VLD, confirmed they will join discussions.
But sources added that the party had not officially decided whether to join a Federal Government. Given that a coalition with Open VLD would only have a majority of just one seat, a "special powers law" would be considered to allow it to implement the reforms necessary to keep the budget on track.
CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
In the meantime, Christian Democrat CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi is opposed to replacing Vooruit with Open VLD, arguing that the next government will need "a broad majority to implement major reforms."
Mahdi remains hopeful that Vooruit will return to the negotiating table: "We must above all remind everyone of their responsibility," he stressed. "I am getting signals from all parties that something might still be possible if everyone makes concessions."
The viability of partnering with Open VLD is also being questioned behind the scenes. Some insiders told Belga that this formula is not workable but must be tried as a means of getting Vooruit back on board. Others reportedly did call the approach serious.
'Tired of waiting'
Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the Francophone liberals MR, has said he is tired of waiting for the socialists. "If Vooruit does not want to join, we have to work in a different strategy and there are only so many solutions. Either it is Arizona, or it is an option with Open VLD. Everything else is completely impossible."
Bouchez has on several occasions voiced support for bringing Open VLD – MR's Flemish sister party – into negotiations and has argued that a coalition with only 76 of the 150 seats is feasible. "There are examples of governments with a majority of one seat. Abroad, you even have minority governments."
"Everyone can say what they want but by the beginning of next week we have to get around the table to negotiate a budget and get it approved before the end of the year," he said. "Not doing so would be irresponsible."
