What are the challenges facing the new Brussels regional government?

The new Brussels Prime Minister Boris Dilliès (Francophone liberal MR) started his term of office with a visit to the Brussels South Station. This is no coincidence. He wants to set the tone for the coming years right away: security is the top priority of the MR's first regional prime minister in Brussels in more than 20 years. The party has been accusing its rival and now coalition partner the PS (Francophone socialists) of laxity in this area for years.

In an interview with the French-language public broadcaster RTBF, Dilliès specifically mentioned the problems in and around Brussels South.

‘I think it's important because, apart from its symbolic significance, a station is a gateway to the city.’

Security is one of the few areas where the government is not cutting back. Over the next few years, an additional 10 million euros will be allocated to a plan to make stations safer.

The one-billion-euro question

The budget is the other major challenge facing the new government’s team. The 7-way coalition that includes 4 Flemish parties has promised to completely eliminate the budget deficit – currently just over 1 billion – within three years.

That money must mainly be found within the government administration itself. ‘We need to put our house in order,’ says Dilliès. Major mergers of government departments should generate the tens of millions needed. Savings on personnel will be achieved by not replacing some people who retire.

‘I am no magician, but there is undeniably a will to put our house in order,’ says Dilliès.

Many loose ends

The Brussels coalition agreement is short and was written in just three days. This leaves many questions about what the new government will actually do and how exactly it will achieve a balanced budget.

‘There are still a lot of loose ends,’ explains Steven Van Garsse, political editor of the Brussels news outlet Bruzz.

‘Many issues have not been discussed, probably precisely to ensure that they could reach an agreement.’

‘There are also still a lot of blind spots in the budget.’

From opposition to government

The challenges facing the capital must be tackled by an ideologically diverse coalition of seven parties: the Francophone liberals of MR, the socialists of PS and the centrists of Les Engagés as well as the Flemish ecologists of Groen, socialists of Vooruit, liberals of Anders and Christian democrats of CD&V.   

For the first time since 2004, the French-speaking liberals are part of the government. What's more, MR is now at the helm, after two decades of PS dominance in Brussels. Dilliès can distinguish himself on security issues, but his main task will be to keep his coalition’s team together.

In terms of content, the leaders of other parties have the advantage that, unlike Dilliès, they were involved in negotiating the agreement. Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) and Ahmed Laaouej (PS) have also been involved in regional Brussels politics for many years.

Can the new PM broker compromise?

Dilliès will have to find a role as a compromiser. After years as mayor of the Brussels borough of Ukkel, he earned himself the image of being a provocateur.

For example, he spoke out strongly against the merger of police zones – a decision and a matter for the federal government – and was a fierce opponent of the Good Move mobility plans. Under the impetus of Elke Van den Brandt, these hotly contested traffic plans were introduced during the previous parliament.

The government will now scrap the name “Good Move”, but the principles will remain in place, Van den Brandt insists. ‘I have seen how, in my municipality (Ukkel), these plans were dogmatically implemented from one day to the next,’ says Dilliès, who is half French and readily admits he hasn’t had the need to speak Dutch for two decades. According to him, this dogmatism must come to an end in the coming years. ‘It takes time, but respect for everyone is essential.’

Incomprehension about lack of Dutch

In his first days on the job, in Flanders and among Dutch-speaking Brussels residents, Dilliès’s poor knowledge of Dutch, Belgium’s majority language, has been the main focus of attention. When he was sworn in, he was barely able to answer questions from the Dutch-speaking press.

This led to a lot of criticism. Among others, federal defence minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist N-VA), Koen Geens (Flemish Christian democrat CD&V) and Bert Anciaux (Flemish socialist Vooruit) all expressed their concern on social media.

Dilliès acknowledged that it is unacceptable for someone in his position not to speak Dutch. He says he has not spoken the language for 20 years.

‘If you don't use a language at all, it tends to disappear. But I owe the people of Brussels a good knowledge of Dutch,’ the new Brussels premier insisted, promising to work on it. Here too he will certainly be held to account in coming months.