The woman responsible for trying to form a coalition of Dutch-speaking parties for the Brussels regional government has accused Francophone parties in the capital of “deliberately putting a bomb” under the attempts to form a new regional government coalition. In Brussels each of the two language groups (Dutch/French) first form a coalition individually, before the two groups come together to form a regional government.
Proposal to postpone next phase of Low Emission Zone a bone of contention between Flemish and Francophone politicians in Brussels
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The Francophone liberals, centrists and socialists have already said that they wish to be part of the next regional government. However, among the Dutch-speaking parties it is still unclear who will be part of the next coalition.
As the leading politician of the largest Flemish party in the regional parliament, the Flemish green Elke Van den Brandt has issued a scathing reaction to proposals by the three Francophone parties that will be in the next regional government to postpone a tightening of the Low Emission Zone rules applicable in the capital by a further two years.
Also, in a joint statement released by the Francophone liberals, socialists and centrists is the intent to postpone the rollout of the “Renolution” grants scheme designed to make homes more eco-friendly, also by another two years.
Breach of confidence
Ms Van den Brandt says that this is “a breach of confidence. Francophones and Dutch-speaks should work together to find solutions. That is how Brussels is governed”.
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s ‘De ochtend’, Ms Van Den Brandt said "This proposal is unprecedented as it comes from only one camp. Certainly when you consider that this is something that is important for one of partners around the table”.
The Low Emission Zone was one of the main policies of the Flemish Greens at the regional elections in June.
Ms Van den Brandt got wind of the Francophone parties' plans during the weekend. She tried to convince her Francophone counterpart and future Brussels First Minister David Leisterh (Francophone liberal) to hold talks with the Flemish parties on the issue first. However, he declined.
She insists that she has always been open to talks with the Francophone parties and that she cannot understand why they are now making agreements behind her back. “By doing this the Francophone parties are deliberately placing a bomb under the talks on the formation of a Brussels coalition government.”
What now?
But what now? Ms Van den Brandt told ‘De ochtend’ that “I now look to David Leisterh to make proposals that will restore confidence. It was already difficult, but this only makes the formation of a new government more difficult”.
She hopes that this is not a foretaste of how Brussels will be governed in the coming years.