Maxime Prévot appointed mediator in federal government formation
King Philippe has asked Maxime Prévot, the leader of francophone centrist party Les Engagés, to become mediator in the federal government formation, the Royal Palace announced on Friday afternoon. Prévot will report on his progress to the King on 2 September.
Prévot's appointment follows the failed formation mission of N-VA leader Bart De Wever. Talks broke down on Thursday because of a conflict between French-speaking liberals MR and Flemish socialists Vooruit over a possible capital gains tax.
Prévot's mission is "to bring the positions of the different parties closer together so that negotiations can resume as soon as possible", the palace said in a press release. "Mr Prévot has accepted this mission and will report to the King on Monday 2 September."
Prévot's party became Wallonia's second largest party after MR in the June elections.
Rebuild trust
The decision shows that a possible government with N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V is not yet dead. But after Thursday's events, it is likely to take some time to rebuild trust between the parties.
In particular, the relationship between Vooruit and MR has soured. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau indirectly blamed MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez for the failed coalition on Thursday. Bouchez responded on Friday by saying that "it is not unusual for a party with 30 per cent of the vote to find a little more in a coalition agreement than a party with 13 per cent," referring to MR's and Vooruit's respective election results.
"It is not unusual for a party with 30 per cent of the vote to find a little more in a coalition agreement than a party with 13 per cent"
CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi argued for a resumption of negotiations after his meeting at the palace on Friday. The fact that the King invited the five parties on Friday is a "clear signal" that he believes the coalition is still possible. Later on Friday, Rousseau said that Bart De Wever could return as formateur at some point.
© BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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