After a series of exploratory talks, King Filip on Wednesday appointed Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever as the federal informateur. It’s now Mr De Wever’s job to carry out exploratory talks with the political parties with the view to the formation of a new federal government following the 9 June general election. He will also suggest to the king who is best placed to form the new government and become premier. After the Francophone socialists of PS, the Flemish liberals of Open VLD and the Flemish greens of Groen all indicated they would remain on the opposition benches, only one coalition seems possible for now: Flemish nationalist N-VA with the Francophone liberals of MR, and the Flemish and Francophone Christian democrats of CD&V and Les Engagés plus the Flemish socialists of Vooruit. Socialist Vooruit is likely to demand a high price if it is to join a largely centre-right administration. Socialist supremo Conner Rousseau has already spoken of the 'slim chance' of his party teaming up with the others.
Vooruit’s Conner Rousseau: 'Only a slim chance Flemish socialists will join the federal government'
Speaking with various media outlets Conner Rousseau pointed out that four parties suggested as possible coalition partners – N-VA, CD&V, MR and Les Engagés - "want to pursue policies diametrically opposed to those of Vooruit".
Mr Rousseau has noted that already only shortly after the elections N-VA, CD&V, MR and Les Engagés have latched onto each other, but that this bloc shows no willingness to do things in the way Vooruit sees the country advancing.
"In recent years, we have been committed to protecting spending power and we have invested in healthcare. Voters have also rewarded us for that. These 4 parties simply just want cuts on healthcare and don't want the wealthiest in society to make a fair contribution. That simply goes against the policies for which voters rewarded."
Mr Rousseau says he is “always willing to be reasonable and constructive". "But if the signals that have already come to us suggesting that it's just going to be about saving on healthcare and on ordinary working people then there's just very little we can do in a government like that."
Mr Rousseau suggests the Flemish liberals of Open VLD could join the quartet to form a majority.
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Liesbeth Van Impe, editor-in-chief of daily Het Nieuwsblad, isn’t too surprised by Mr Rousseau's position. He seems to be setting his price on government participation. "After all, it would have been very crazy, if Vooruit had shot towards a coalition in which the centre-right says they are going to pursue centre-right policies."
Will Vooruit opt for the opposition?
"I didn't say that" Mr Rousseau replies. "Our approach has been rewarded. We want to continue in that direction."
Mr Rousseau first wants to get a substantive signal from Informateur Bart De Wever, the Flemish nationalist leader appointed by King Filip to look into a possible government coalition. "We want to see a text that will be the starting point for talks. Also at the Flemish level." The lines it sets out should not be the same as the previous Flemish government, he stresses.
"I hope they have understood what Flemish people are saying, that different policies are needed. All those N-VA and CD&V ministers sitting there now must realise that they have also been punished."
That also means: a change to Jan Jambon as leader of the Flemish government. "He's just about the most right-wing N-VA person you can find," Mr Rousseau says.
Early afternoon it emerged that Bart De Wever (N-VA) will meet with representatives of the Flemish Christian democrats and socialists on Friday to discuss the formation of a three-party Flemish government coalition.