Is the political deadlock in Brussels coming to an end? "If DéFI agrees, we'll have a government within a week"
The political deadlock in the Brussels-Capital Region following the June 2024 elections may be nearing a resolution—at least according to MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez. On Thursday, he called on DéFI to join a coalition government, stating: “If DéFI says yes, we’ll have a government within a week. If not, Brussels will face a crisis.”
Bouchez ruled out a coalition with the Socialist Party (PS), accusing it of being too "communitarian" and opposed to key reforms such as budget consolidation and labour market activation.
"A coalition with the PS would prolong the failed policies of the last 20 years and deepen the deficit," he said, adding that a period of operating under provisional budgets might be preferable to PS-led spending.
Lack of formal majority
He reiterated his support for a majority coalition consisting of MR, Les Engagés and DéFI on the French-speaking side, allied with the Dutch-speaking parties. While this trio lacks a formal majority within the French-speaking group, Bouchez insisted that the proposed coalition would have a majority in the Brussels parliament as a whole.
If they agree, things could move very quickly
If DéFI refused, Bouchez warned, the party would be equally responsible for the collapse of the talks. "If they agree, things could move very quickly."
Last June's elections left Brussels politicians with a difficult task. On the French-speaking side, the PS and Ecolo suffered losses, while the MR and Les Engagés made gains. On the Dutch-speaking side, it took until November to form a workable majority, consisting of Groen, Vooruit, Open VLD and N-VA.
The fact that there is still no government is due to a lack of final agreement between parties on both sides on who should be in the coalition, leaving the region under a caretaker administration and delaying key projects.
© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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