The Flemish Greens were the largest party in the Dutch-language electoral collage in Sunday’s Brussels regional parliament elections. As such it is up to the first candidate on the green’s list, in this case outgoing minister Elke Van den Brandt, to try and form a coalition that will make up the Dutch-speaking part of the Brussels regional government.
Van den Brandt to start Brussels coalition talks on Wednesday, far-right won’t be invited
Published:
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ the outgoing Flemish green Federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (who lives in Brussels) said “Elke Van den Brandt will start talks tomorrow. She will talk to all parties except Vlaams Belang (far-right)”.
In order to form a majority on the Dutch-speaking side of the Brussels Parliament at least thee parties will be required. This could only be done if the greens entered into a coalition with the new party Team Fouad Ahidar and given that the far-right Vlaams Belang are being excluded any one of three parties (Vooruit, Open VLD or N-VA). A coalition without Team Fouad Ahidar would require 4 parties to have a majority.
Once a coalition has been formed among Dutch-speakers talks are held with the representatives of the coalition that has been formed among Francophone to form a regional government. This could prove difficult, the largest Francophone party, the liberal MR is deeply critical of Ms Van den Brandt’s traffic plan Good Move. Nevertheless, Ms Van der Straeten is optimistic that common ground can be found. “The campaign is over. I can't imagine that for example MR doesn't want to work on measures to improve road safety.”