The socialist party PS is ready to start negotiations with the French-speaking liberals of MR and Christian democrats Les Engagés on the formation of a Brussels government. No clear majority is yet emerging among the Dutch-speaking parties, so a coalition government is not yet imminent.
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Socialists PS agree to start negotiations with MR and Les Engagés to form Brussels government
Sally Tipper
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In forming the Brussels government, the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking parties agree separately on who they want to govern with. Only once that is agreed do the two language groups sit around the table to draw up a joint coalition agreement.
The big winners in the Brussels elections on the French-speaking side – MR and Les Engagés – joined forces on 11 July, with David Leisterh of MR taking charge of the preliminary talks.
Cooperation with PS was the only realistic outcome. Anything else would require cooperation between four parties, or with the far-left PTB, which has already been ruled out.
Key themes
On Thursday, PS political bureau voted to give its agreement to co-negotiate a Brussels government. It highlighted a number of key themes: affordable housing, job creation, public services and a gradual return to a balanced budget “without austerity politics”.
The Brussels list leader for Vooruit, Ans Persoons, posted on X that she hoped there would soon be a breakthrough on the Dutch-speaking side. Mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt of Groen is leading preliminary negotiations and is trying to put together a team around Groen, Open VLD, Vooruit and CD&V.
With only three ministerial posts to be shared on the Dutch-speaking side, the smallest party, CD&V, has showed no enthusiasm in these exploratory talks.
Unknown quantity
The unknown quantity is Fouad Ahidar’s party. The former Vooruit politician’s party gained three seats in the Brussels parliament in June. His Team Fouad Ahidar could represent an alternative to the four-party track, but there appears to be little appetite for it.
His former party says that there are currently no talks with Ahidar, and that a scenario with Groen, Open VLD and CD&V is preferable for the time being.