The saga of forming a Brussels Government continues, with talks reaching a new phase as Frédéric De Gucht, the Open Vld leader in Brussels, refused to pursue discussions involving seven parties.
MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez has asked each party to consider a proposal that will include an N-VA commissioner in the potential government. But if no collective agreement is reached by Monday, a minority government may be the only option, even if it's made up of only one of the francophone language group.
The Brussels leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Ahmed Laaouej, immediately rejected the proposal, stating that it is not a novel idea. He reaffirmed the Socialist Party’s firm refusal to enter a governing coalition that involves N-VA.
The meeting on Friday involved a briefing from the director of the regional debt agency, who explained that the management of Brussels' debt means there are no immediate issues with cash flow. Bouchez publicly appealed to the proposed coalition partners (PS, Les Engagés, Groen, Vooruit, Open Vld, N-VA, as well as MR), to agree by Monday to the proposal of an N-VA commissioner so that the process to form a government can progress.
Bouchez argued that N-VA is a necessary government partner in order to form a majority without extreme parties (ie. far-right Vlaams Belang and Workers Party PTB/PVDA) and communautarists (ie. Team Fouad Ahidir). The response will be decisive as indefinite discussions are not feasible.
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But Laaouej only reiterated PS’s refusal, emphasising that Open Vld cannot claim a position that would allow it to influence budgetary issues and then avoid working on solutions. He said that PS' position is a demonstration of the autonomy of the Brussels-Capital Region.
He also pointed out that they already had a workable solution involving seven parties without N-VA, ensuring a broad majority. This would replace N-VA with CD&V – a proposal that Open-Vld has itself refused to get behind.
Laaouej maintains that a deal with N-VA undermines Brussels’ autonomy, ignores the clear choice of the electorate, and negates regional governance by enforcing mirror coalitions. He concluded that PS will not endorse or support an Arizona model (similar to the Federal Government) transposed to Brussels.
Despite differing views, all parties acknowledged a constructive atmosphere in the latest meeting.
