The negotiators involved in the talks for the formation of a new federal government are holding their first meeting of the new year. Negotiatiors from the Flemish nationalists, socialists and Chrisdtian democrats and the Francophone liberals and centrists began their meeting at 9:30am on Thursday. The had been given until New Year to comment on “Formateur” Bart De Wever's (Flemish nationalist, photo above) memorandum on socio-economic reforms.
Today's talks will centre on taxation, the labour market and pensions. These are topics that have proved sticking points for many months. The talks will go on until 5pm. This evening Bart De Wever needs to be in Antwerp for the installation of the new city council and to take his of the oath as the city’s mayor.
The negotiations need to gain momentum. Mr De Wever is due to report to the King again next Tuesday. Just ahead of the start of Thursday’s talks Mr De Wever once again stressed that he wants a new government “as soon as possible” and that the deadline is “before the end of January”.
Flemish socialist leader “Hope there is a breakthrough next week”
The leader of the Flemish socialists Conner Rousseau (photo above) hopes there will be a breakthrough in negotiations for the formation of a new a federal government in the coming week.
Writing on Instagram, Mr Rousseau says that he and his team have been working hard in recent days on “possible compromises”.
He adds that it is important to make concessions during negotiations and he hopes that everyone at the negotiating table will try to do so. “Otherwise, the negotiations will fail”.