In a statement released on Sunday evening, the man leading the talks on the formation of a new federal coalition government Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) has said that “The party leaders have agreed to speed up the pace of the talks in order to ensure that the country has a new government by the end of January at the latest. Mr De Wever added that he will ask the King for his mission to be prolonged for a final time when he goes to the Royal Palace on 7 January.
The leaders of the 5 parties involved in the Federal coalition talks want an agreement “before the end of January”
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Mr De Wever’s statement came after a meeting between himself and the leaders of the four other parties that are involved in the federal coalition talks.
"The next few days will be devoted to preparations on a technical level so that the party leaders can resume an intensive work schedule on 2 January”, Mr De Wever adds.
He went on to say that if a significant breakthrough has been made by 7 January he will ask the King for his mission to be prolonged for a final time
The meeting between the party leaders took place on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday afternoon each of the the party leaders meet with Mr De Wever individually.
They discussed Mr De Wever’s “super memorandum” on socio-economic policy and the amendments and adaptations that they wish to make to it. The Flemish socialist party Vooruit in particular is reported to have demanded that a sizable number of amendments by made. However, other parties too asked for the memorandum to be amended.
Political commentators note that for the first time since the start of the coalition negotiations the leaders of the 5 parties involved in the talks have agreed to timetable.