Flemish ecologist Groen, socialist Vooruit, liberal Open VLD and nationalist N-VA have agreed they will form the Dutch-speaking majority on the Brussels regional government. Negotiations have been dragging on since the June elections. The Flemish parties now hope to hold talks with the French-speaking majority parties, Francophone liberal MR, centrist Les Engagés and socialist PS to try to form a new Brussels regional government, but the PS has already rejected the new Flemish majority.
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Breakthrough in Brussels: Flemish parties strike deal on Brussels government
Colin Clapson
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The government of the Brussels capital region is one of the more remarkable creations of Belgium’s state reforms, which handed more powers to the language communities and regions. Brussels is a region just like Flanders and Wallonia and is governed by its own regional government. It is also a meeting place between Flemings and Francophones that have a guaranteed representation in this power-sharing executive.
Both communities qualify for ministerial posts in the regional government and require the support of a majority of lawmakers in their language group in the Brussels parliament. In practise this means each community first forges a majority in its language group and only when these majorities have been agreed can talks start between Flemings and Francophones on the programme of the new Brussels government.
By law the Brussels government consists of a first minister and two Flemish and two Francophone ministers. There are also three secretaries of state or junior ministers including one Fleming.
In practise this means there are only three government posts up for grabs for 4 Flemish parties. Liberal Open VLD is understood to have accepted being represented by a government commissioner instead of a minister.
Since the election in June Flemish parties have been struggling to achieve a workable majority: Groen, Vooruit, Open VLD and N-VA have now managed to do so.
Flemish parties headed by formateur Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) now hope to start talks with the French-speaking majority parties, MR, PS and Les Engagés.
If successful this will be the first time that Francophone socialist PS agrees to join a government with Bart De Wever’s Flemish nationalist N-VA. It will also be the first time that the Flemish-nationalists enter the Brussels government.
‘We fully understand that there are sensitivities that will have to be ironed out between the different partners of the future Brussels Government,’ Ms Van den Brandt says.
Spanner in the works
But Francophone formateur in Brussels, David Leisterh (MR), has already said negotiations on a new Brussels government cannot begin. ‘There are obstacles preventing fresh talks, says the Brussels liberal: ‘I now have to seek a solution.’
Francophone socialist PS seems to be blocking progress. The party points to the government commissioner that is being created to give Flemish liberal Open VLD a seat at the government table. The PS notes that post cannot be created without the approval of Francophone parties.
The PS’s opposition to the new Flemish majority seems motivated by the presence of Flemish nationalist N-VA in the Flemish majority.