Elections 2024: ‘Stab in the back’ by socialists complicates Brussels government formation, says Groen
The disappearance of Groen-Ecolo from local governments in the City of Brussels and Ixelles is a severe blow for the greens. “This stab in the back complicates possible talks at the regional level,” said Nadia Naji, co-leader of Flemish green party Groen, to Brussels news platform BRUZZ.
After the elections on Sunday, Groen and Ecolo are no longer part of the coalitions in the strategically important municipalities of the City of Brussels and Ixelles. In both municipalities, the socialist mayor opted for a majority with the liberals of MR-Open VLD and French-speaking centrist party Les Engagés - in the City of Brussels joined by CD&V, in Ixelles by Objectif XL.
In the City of Brussels and Ixelles, the Greens have in the past legislature been committed to mobility interventions, with the Good Move mobility plan the most important action, which MR strongly criticised. That the francophone socialist party PS, with its Dutch-speaking counterpart Vooruit, is now choosing to bypass the Greens and embrace the MR, is a severe blow for the Greens.
"The majority of voters in the City of Brussels and Ixelles voted left-progressive, but are left out in the cold by PS-Vooruit"
“The fact that PS-Vooruit throws out the greens without mercy in municipalities where we score well, such as Ixelles and the City of Brussels, is a clear signal for the formation: they don't want us there,” said Naji.
“The majority of voters in the City of Brussels and Ixelles voted left-progressive, but are left out in the cold by PS-Vooruit. This stab in the back complicates possible talks at the regional level.”
Talks to form a new Brussels government should restart this week, although it is unclear who will take the initiative to do so. Elke Van den Brandt of Groen stepped down as Dutch-speaking formateur after the francophone coalition partners - MR, PS and Les Engagés - tabled a proposal in the Brussels Parliament to postpone the tightening of the low emission zone by two years.
MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez even threatened to end Good Move, which was the last straw for Groen. Fouad Ahidar, leader of the Team Fouad Ahidar party, briefly tried to relaunch the negotiations but without success.
Groen's Nadia Naji in the Flemish Parliament in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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