King Filip has appointed the Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever as “Federal Informateur”. The task of the Informateur is to prepare the ground for start of negotiations for the formation of a new government. As the leader of the largest party in the Flemish parliament, Mr De Wever was already Flemish Informateur.
King Filip completed his round of consultative talks with the parties that are represented in the Federal Parliament just before lunchtime on Wednesday. The Belgian monarch wasted no time and invited Mr De Wever to the Royal Palace at 2:30pm. There Mr De Wever was given the task of holding exploratory talks with the various parties to gauge whether they wish to be part of a new federal government coalition.
Mr De Wever is also Flemish Informateur. In that role, he is holding final exploratory talks today. The Flemish socialist party Vooruit is demanding that Mr De Wever drafts a document outlining the parties’ positions before it will proceed with talks with the nationalists and the Christian democrats that if successful would lead to the formation of a new Flemish Government.