The 3 political parties that are involved in the negotiations for the formation of a new Flemish government are to devote the next fortnight to a round of consultative talks with civil society players that represent a wide range of interest groups in Flanders. Representatives of the civil society groups will be invited to talks with the man that is chairing the negotiations, the Flemish nationalist politician Matthias Diependaele, the leader of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit Melissa Depraetere and the leader of the Flemish Christian democrat party CD&V Sammy Mahdi. The meetings are expected to take place discreetly, away from the media spotlight.
Flemish coalition talks: parties to hold consultative talks with to civil society players during the next 2 weeks
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Among those invited are expected to be representatives from the Flemish Employers’ Association Voka, the trade unions, the largest farmers' the trade unions, the largest farmers' federation in Flanders Boerenbond, the nature protection association Natuurpunt and the Flemish families’ association Gezinsbond.
In parallel to the consultative talks with civil society players, the Flemish nationalists are preparing a series of 19 documents that will serve as a starting point for discussions on 19 areas of policy. The two other parties will have 2 days to study the documents, after which negotiations will commence.
The thematic working parties will be chaired by members the Flemish nationalists' negotiating team. Matthias Diependaele will be in charge of the groups devoted to Housing and Budget/Finance. The outgoing Minister for Education and Animal Welfare Ben Weyts will take charge of the groups dedicated to his current ministerial competences. The outgoing Minister for the Environment and Justice, Zuhal Demir, will chair the negotiations on the Environment, Justice, Climate and Energy. Zuhal Demir will also chair a working party on Welfare and Poverty.
A wide range of groups invited
The consultative talks with civil society groups will run parallel to the other talks. The aim is to gauge the various organisations’ expectations. The organisations that have been invited include the industry federations Agoria (technology), Essenscia (chemicals), Fevia (food) and Fedustria (textiles, wood and furniture), the Flemish Association of City and Municipal Authorities, the Flemish Union of Provinces, the employers' organisation Voka, the trade unions, the farming associations, environmental associations, the education unions, University Vice-Chancellors and the healthcare federations.