Good afternoon from Brussels! We are now on day three after the elections and things are moving quickly. The government formation processes across the regions are already in full swing (or even concluded in Wallonia). Follow the most important developments of Wednesday 12 June here.
This article covers the developments of Wednesday 12 June. The latest updates appear highest on the page. Those who want to read The Brussels Times' play-by-play coverage of election Sunday can find the live blog here, while Monday's coverage can be found here and all the news from yesterday can be found in this article.
Coalition formation talks: What do we know so far?
Exploratory talks for the formation of new governments are once again at the top of the agenda today.
For the Federal Government, King Philippe plays a key role in a coalition being formed (find out more about this process here), and for this reason, he has been inviting party leaders to the Royal Palace for talks since early Monday morning. The past two days, he has seen the lion's share of the party chairs, but there are still three parties left: the leaders of the Dutch- and French-speaking Greens (Groen and Ecolo) as well as the pro-Francophone centrist party DéFi will be invited this morning.
In Flanders, so-called "informateur" Bart De Wever (leader of the winning party N-VA) is also continuing his talks with party leaders after meeting with four party chairs on Tuesday. Today, the leaders of Belgium's Workers Party PVDA and Groen are still expected to visit De Wever.
In Brussels, the coalition puzzle is expected to be slightly more complex as the Brussels government is formed in two stages. First, the biggest parties in the French and Dutch language groups (MR and Groen) try to form a majority within those language groups. This being done, negotiations start for a Brussels coalition. Groen leader Elke Van den Brandt today started talks for the formation of a majority in the Dutch-language group and has invited all parties to speak with her from large to small, excluding Vlaams Belang.
Finally, in Wallonia, the deed is done: MR and Les Engagés already announced on Tuesday that they will form the Walloon government together, as was predicted. They also said they will partner to form the government in the Brussels-Capital Region and also at the federal level.
[18:05] - MR in Brussels confirms first discussions, PTB excluded
The lead candidate for MR in Brussels David Leisterh has confirmed it has initiated formation consultations for the Brussels-Capital Region Government with Francophone parties on Wednesday, his team confirmed to the Belga News Agency.
"Our meeting with David Leisterh today confirmed our shared commitment to reforming Brussels and our aligned governance, finance, security and employment principles," said the leader of Les Engagés in Brussels, Christophe De Beukelaer. He emphasised the importance of a unifying project and proactive climate and health policies, which will be central to their future discussions.
Many parties including the Socialist Party (PS) and Ecolo have remained discreet, or even silent, about their discussions with MR. Exceptions to the post-consultations include PTB, who are not invited to the discussions, also confirmed by the MR team.
With that, we will be wrapping up today’s live blog. Thanks all to who tuned in!
[16:36] - Open VLD says 'not yes, not no' to Brussels Government
Liberal Open VLD is saying "not yes, not no" to taking part in the Brussels Government, said leader of the list Flemish Minister Sven Gatz, after his meeting with Elke Van den Brandt (Groen)0
The Open VLD has become the fourth-largest party, but has lost one seat. The party still holds two seats, as do the N-VA (third place), Vlaams Belang (fifth) and Vooruit.brussels (sixth). Open VLD lost heavily in Flanders and at the Federal level as well, and has opted to forego those governments in favour of the opposition.
In Brussels, however, forming a government could prove complicated. On the Dutch-speaking side, in addition to Groen (4 seats), Team Fouad Ahidar (3 seats) also won the elections.
The Region of Brussels' Finance Minister Sven Gatz. Credit: Laurie Dieffembacq/Belga
The most logical option would be a government comprising Groen, Team Fouad Ahidar and the N-VA, but the latter has already announced that it would not enter into a government with Ahidar. If Open VLD and Vooruit also refuse, the equation will involve a government with four or even five Flemish parties, meaning the liberals will be needed.
Gatz said after his conversation with Van den Brandt that he "had not ruled anything out." In any case, Open VLD does not have the upper hand and the election result is not good. "Either way, we are not in a position to say that we are going up."
[16:24] - Conner Rousseau running to become leader of Vooruit (again)
Former Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau is again running to become leader of the party, he announced on Instagram. Earlier today, current leader Melissa Depraetere – who took over after Rousseau stepped down over racist remarks – expressed her reluctance to succeed herself.
In her own words, she was already "hoping that Rousseau would pick up where [she] left off," Depraetere said. Rousseau resigned last November after being caught in the eye of the storm for racist and misogynist statements.
[15:40] - Bart De Wever (N-VA) named as 'informator'
As expected, the King has appointed N-VA leader and election winner Bart De Wever as the so-called "informator" to prepare the formation of a Federal Government, in line with what traditionally happens when the results make several government formations possible, or when forming a government could become very difficult.
The informator does not immediately form the government (this is the role of the formator, who often later becomes Prime Minister). Instead, De Wever has been "entrusted with a fact-finding mission" to identify the parties wishing to rapidly form a stable coalition at the federal level and to identify its main political orientations, a Royal Palace press release read. An initial report is expected from De Wever on 19 June.
De Wever was already the "informator" at the Flemish level, meaning it is up to him to form the Flemish Government. In that position, he is conducting the final exploratory discussions today. Read more about how the government formation process with formators and informators works here.
[14:16] - Vooruit wants "starting note" from De Wever before joining Flemish Government
The socialist Vooruit party wants Flemish informator Bart De Wever (N-VA) to "give a signal that a different policy can be introduced" at the Flemish level before they agree to become part of the coalition.
The party asks that De Wever create a kind of "starting note" that should demonstrate that a "different and more social" policy can be introduced at the Flemish level, Vooruit leader Melissa Depraetere said on Flemish radio on Wednesday. Now, the Vooruit office has confirmed this demand for a starting note.
Vooruit's leader Melissa Depraetere. Credit: Belga/Tom Goyvaerts
Flemish informator De Wever will complete his round of discussions with the Flemish party leaders on Wednesday. Green co-leaders Nadia Naji and Jeremie Vaneeckhout will be the last to visit him.
The question will be whether De Wever will immediately step up a gear afterwards and start formation discussions at the Flemish level, which experts predict would be with CD&V and Vooruit as partners.
Vooruit, however, does not want to join a new Flemish Government "just like that," they stressed. "Before we go any further, it would be obvious that Mr De Wever sends a clear signal that a different policy may be introduced, or that there will be a starting note in which this is clearly stated."
[13:21] - Bart De Wever expected at the Palace at 14:30
N-VA leader and election winner Bart De Wever will have an audience with the King at 14:30, the Palace reported on Wednesday afternoon after the King completed his consultations with the leaders of all political parties an hour ago.
King Philippe is now expected to appoint an informator to prepare the formation of a Federal Government, which experts agree will likely be De Wever. During the election campaign, De Wever indicated several times that he would be a candidate to become Prime Minister.
The informator, however, does not immediately form the government. That is in principle the task of the formator, who often later becomes Prime Minister. Read more about how the government formation process with formators and informators works here.
Now that governments between MR and Les Engagés are in the making in Wallonia and everything points to a coalition between N-VA, Vooruit and CD&V in Flanders, it is not unlikely that this will be reflected with the same parties at the federal level.
De Wever was already the "informator" at the Flemish level, meaning it is up to him to form the Flemish Government. In that position, he is conducting the final exploratory discussions today.
[12:45] - Last party leader visits King, informator will now be appointed
The King's talk with DéFi leader François De Smet is now over, meaning all party leaders have visited the Palace for a royal consultation.
King Philippe is now expected to appoint a so-called "informator" to start explorative talks with a view to forming a Federal Government.
King Philippe and DeFI leader Francois De Smet pictured after a meeting at the Royal Palace. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
The informator is usually an experienced politician who speaks to the various parties about their preferences for how a formation might take place and with what partners. While the King is free to choose any informator he wants, his decision is usually informed by his consultations with the party leaders about what kind of government formation would be acceptable.
Read more about how the process of forming a Federal Government in Belgium works here.
[12:37] - N-VA is also largest party in Senate
The N-VA is not only the largest party in the Federal Chamber, but also in the Senate. The Flemish nationalists have 10 seats in the Senate in the coming legislature, far-right Vlaams Belang and liberal MR have eight each.
The Senate is composed of 50 senators appointed by the State, and 10 co-opted senators appointed by the various parties based on their results in the federal elections. As for co-opted senators only, N-VA may appoint two and Vlaams Belang, MR, PS, Les Engagés, Vooruit, CD&V and Open VLD one each. PTB-PVDA may also co-opt one senator, based on the electoral result in French-speaking Belgium.
Vooruit, however, announced that it will not co-opt a senator. During the electoral campaign, Vooruit figurehead Conner Rousseau said his party would not co-opt a senator. On Monday, the Flemish Socialists' party office confirmed that the party would not co-opt one indeed.
Senate seats at the Federal Parliament in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
"Everyone has been claiming for years that they want to abolish the Senate, but it never happens. Well, if each party does not co-opt anyone, then you abolish the Senate de facto. We are already setting an example," a spokesperson said. "If the rest also mean what they say, they won't send anyone either."
With state senators and co-opted senators together, N-VA will form the largest group in the Senate with ten seats, followed by Vlaams Belang and MR with eight seats each, PS with six, PTB-PVDA also with six (four in the French-speaking part of the country, and two in Flanders), Les Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V with five, Open VLD with three, Groen with two and Ecolo with one seat. The parliament of the German-speaking community may also appoint a senator.
[11:16] - Vooruit 'will not simply join Flemish government to continue with current policies'
Vooruit's current leader Melissa Depraetere has said her party will not enter a Flemish Government if it is to continue the policies of the Jambon government (led by N-VA's Jan Jambon, who is Minister-President). She told Radio 1 that she made this clear during her first conversation with informateur Bart De Wever (N-VA) on Tuesday.
Depraetere stressed that Flanders needs a different policy than under the Jambon government, with N-VA, CD&V and Open VLD. "The people need a different Flemish policy. The Flemish Government and those parties have been punished, they no longer have a majority together."
She argued that the next government in Flanders must focus much more on social policies. "This is also why the voters voted for Vooruit, it's important that De Wever signals that there will be a different policy."
[10:45] - Brussels coalition: 'First positive conversation,' says Ahidar
Fouad Ahidar, the Brussels list leader for Team Fouad Ahidar, said on Wednesday he had a positive conversation with the leader of the Dutch-speaking Green Party Groen Elke Van den Brandt. As leader of the winning party, Van den Brandt is initiating discussions to form a majority among the Flemish parties in Brussels.
The former Vooruit member Ahidar – whose party Team Fouad Ahidar did surprisingly well in the elections, landing in second place and gaining three seats – was first in line to be invited to speak with Van den Brandt. Ahidar indicated afterwards that it was a positive conversation and Van den Brandt didn't rule out Team Ahidar being included in the coalition.
Credit: Belga
"We now have to wait and see if the other parties want to work with us," Ahidar told Belga News Agency. Liberal Open VLD in Brussels has criticised Ahidar's party for focusing too much on the Muslim population; he also has a fraught relationship with his former party Vooruit. Find out who Ahidar is and what he stands for here.
When asked about how talks with Ahidar proceeded, Van den Brandt's cabinet said it would not give any comment on the course of formation talks. "We guarantee discretion to come up with a coherent and strong project for our city. The people of Brussels deserve that," a statement to The Brussels Times read.
MR list leader David Leisterh is also expected to launch the first exploratory talks on the French-speaking side. Once that is done, the two language groups can negotiate a coalition agreement together. This will be complicated for a number of reasons.
[10:20] - Groen opts for opposition on federal and Flemish levels
Co-leaders of the Dutch-speaking environmentalist party Groen, Jeremie Vaneeckhout and Nadja Naji, stated their party is preparing to be in the opposition at both the Flemish and federal levels. "We are not going to assist a right-wing government in need," Naji said. They were the first to visit King Philippe this morning, a meeting was kept very short, and both presidents spoke of a "good" and "serious" conversation, VRT reported.
In Brussels, Groen is responsible for forming a coalition on the Dutch-speaking side. Leader Elke Van den Brandt is initiating the first talks today. Naji also commented on MR's plans to stop the Brussels mobility policy Good Move: "We won't go back to the past. We have a mandate in Brussels and Elke has made progress thanks to GoodMove."
[10:05] - 'Mandate to stop Good Move', says MR list leader in Brussels
David Leisterh, the leader of the French-speaking liberals MR in Brussels and a candidate to become Minister-President in the region, said he wants to halt the regional mobility plan Good Move. "We have the voter's mandate to do that and will do so," he told BX1.
The mobility policy, which when implemented was violently opposed by a vocal minority of residents, aims to restrict transit traffic in residential areas and create a more liveable environment for locals. Making a U-turn on the mobility plan would mean closing some squares and reopening some streets to cars. This is one of MR's two main priorities for Brussels, alongside balancing the budget.
MR's leader George Louis-Bouchez said the party will not give the city entirely to cars but it will change the mindset completely. "We are going to revise the theory so that people have breathing space again," he told French-speaking media. Remarkably, on the Dutch-speaking side, Groen won the elections in Brussels because of that same mobility policy, which will make mobility a key battleground and sticking point in government negotiations.
[09:40] - Philippe Close (PS) to remain Brussels mayor, not taking up seat in Chamber
Philippe Close of the French-speaking socialist party PS, who was elected to the Chamber (federal elections) on Sunday, said he will not take his seat there. "I have always said I want to remain mayor of our capital," he told Le Soir. This means the first deputy on the PS list, MP Khalil Aouasti who would have been an outgoing MP, will continue to take his seat in the Federal Parliament.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close posed for the photographer at the Brussels City Hall, November 2017. Credit: Belga
If Close were to be sworn in as MP, he would have to hand in his mayoral sash, according to the rules that apply in the Brussels Capital Region. Ahmed Laaouej (MP and mayor of Koekelberg), Ridouane Chahid (MP and mayor of Evere) and Françoise Schepmans (MP and councillor of Molenbeek) must also decide what role to fulfil.
[09:12] - Ecolo will not join Brussels' Government, says Zakia Khattabi
French-speaking Green party Ecolo will not enter the future Brussels Government, party member and outgoing Federal Climate Minister Zakia Khattabi told RTBF on Wednesday. She was also the leader of Ecolo's list in the Brussels Region in Sunday's elections.
Ecolo recorded its lowest score during these elections, with votes being halved in Brussels and Wallonia and the party losing ten seats in the Federal Parliament. Khattabi said this makes it impossible to join the government while respecting the will of the electorate.
Environment Minister Zakia Khattabi. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
Additionally, Ecolo made major losses to the French-speaking liberal party MR. The green party therefore says it has "no desire to facilitate MR's rise to power in the capital by entering into a majority with it".
[08:55] - Melissa Depraetere not returning as Vooruit leader, hopes Rousseau will 'pick up where he left off'
Vooruit leader Melissa Depraetere has announced she will not be standing as a candidate to succeed herself as president of the party, adding that she hopes former leader Conner Rousseau will "pick up where she left off".
Rousseau stepped down as party leader in November 2023 following a series of scandals and a slew of racist comments about the Roma community, as well as sexist remarks. A month later, he also quit as a Federal MP. However, he made his comeback for the 9 June elections, closing the party's Federal election list in the East Flanders province.
Vooruit's Conner Rousseau and Vooruit's leader Melissa Depraetere at the party's post-election meeting. Credit: Belga/ Jonas Roosens
On Sunday, he was elected by more than 75,000 preferential votes. Depraetere said she sees this as a clear signal from voters and told Radio 1 that she let Rousseau know that she hopes he will stand as a candidate to become party leader.
"I was never a candidate to be chair and am not today," she said. "I will not stand as a candidate but will lead the negotiations on the federal and the Flemish level," Depraetere said. She has not yet said whether Rousseau will do so. Vooruit's leader elections will be launched next Monday.
