The Brussels chapters of the French-speaking parties, the Socialist Party (PS) and DéFI, have come out strongly against the plans of the new Federal Government, notably the controversial police zone merger.
Ahmed Laaouej, the PS leader in Brussels, has called on Les Engagés and the MR to support a motion against the merger of the six Brussels police zones in the Brussels Parliament, as outlined by the federal coalition agreement.
Laaouej reaffirmed his refusal to govern with the N-VA in Brussels during an appearance on the French-speaking regional channel BX1 on Tuesday.
The Brussels PS parliamentary leader reminded that the merger procedure involves the municipalities and the Brussels Parliament. He hopes to initiate a motion in the parliament with the support of Les Engagés and part of the MR.
A small conference of Brussels mayors unanimously opposed the merger of the police zones about two weeks ago.
A motion would freeze the legislative process for a period, noted Laaouej. He added that the new Minister of the Interior, Bernard Quintin, lives in Ganshoren and should be familiar with the local reality.
Laaouej also strongly criticised the Arizona coalition agreement and its impact on Brussels municipalities and the region. "The N-VA has succeeded in its objective. There’s no need for major reform as Brussels municipalities and the Brussels Region are being suffocated," he stated.
He pointed to measures such as limiting unemployment benefits over time, pushing many people towards social welfare and increasing pressure and costs on the OCMW.
"The damage that N-VA causes at the federal level is not something we want in Brussels," Laaouej concluded, making it clear that the PS maintains its veto against a Brussels government involving the N-VA.
'Nationalist complicity'
The Brussels-based political party DéFI has also criticised the Federal Government's coalition agreement, describing it as a "full-scale assault on the Brussels Region."
In a press statement released on Tuesday, DéFI claimed the agreement "highlights, at best, the inability of MR and Les Engagés to act in the interest of the Brussels Region, and at worst, their complicity in Mr De Wever’s nationalist project."
DéFI sent a letter to Brussels formator David Leisterh (MR), requesting clarifications and outlining conditions for their participation in regional government negotiations.
DeFI's Sophie Rohonyi delivers a speech at the traditional new year's reception of French-speaking regionalist party DeFi, in Brussels, Tuesday 21 January 2025. Credit: Belga
The party raised concerns about several points in the agreement: merging Brussels' police zones, lack of financial support for Central and North stations, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, the federal judicial police, reduction of the Beliris fund, shifting unemployment benefit costs to Brussels municipalities, and ending mandatory asylum seeker distribution across Belgium.
DéFI's letter, signed by party president Sophie Rohonyi and outgoing Brussels minister Bernard Clerfayt, asked Leisterh if he would "defend and secure proper migration management from the new federal government and engage with local security actors," "oppose the forced police zone merger," and "oppose other institutional demands from Dutch-speaking parties, such as merging municipalities and CPAS."
Without guarantees on these points, DéFI will refuse "any further government negotiations with you as formator."
