Government formation: Mediator Prévot to report on progress to the King

Maxime Prévot, the leader of francophone centrist party Les Engagés, will later on Monday report to King Philippe on his progress as mediator in the federal government formation. Bart De Wever will possibly be reinstated as formateur and the discussions around the "socio-economic super-memorandum" could be postponed for the time being.

Since his appointment, Prévot has been trying to bring the five parties negotiating the formation of a new federal government - MR, Les Engagés, N-VA, CD&V and Vooruit - closer together again after former formateur Bart De Wever's attempt to find an agreement around a "socio-economic super-memorandum" failed. The memorandum contained sensitive proposals on the labour market, pensions and taxation.

On Sunday evening, the five parties met again at Prévot's request to agree on how to proceed, more specifically on the approach and working method for negotiations in the coming weeks.

It remains to be seen whether the agreements made are sufficient to restore trust so that Bart De Wever can return as formateur already. And if that is the case, the question is also how the five parties will take things forward in the coming weeks.

It seems out of the question to immediately start up the negotiations on the sensitive “super-memorandum" again. The parties may have agreed to negotiate only on specific themes, such as migration and defence, until the October municipal elections.

^{Les Engagés' leader Maxime Prévot arrives for a meeting to discuss a possible coalition for the federal government, on 30 August 2024 in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}