Federal negotiations: “It’s time to think about changing directions”

The president of Groen, the Flemish environmental party, Meyrem Almaci, declared Friday favorable to the idea of ​​forming a future federal majority rainbow, rather than to continue to envisage a Burgundian coalition, gathering socialists, liberals and the N-VA as well as possibly the CD&V. “It is time to seriously discuss another track (than the Burgundian) after seven months” of negotiations between political parties, she said during the broadcast of VRT-radio’s De Ochtend.

Ms. Almaci expressed her preference for the search for a rainbow coalition, bringing together socialists, liberals and environmentalists, possibly enlarged to the CD&V.

Royal informants, the presidents of the MR and of the CD&V, Georges-Louis Bouchez and Joachim Coens, saw their mission extended by one week on Tuesday, until February 4, after having tried – unsuccessfully so far – to bring together the views of the N-VA and the PS in order to envisage a Burgundian coalition.

But the president of the PS, Paul Magnette, repeated Monday that in the state, a government associating his party and the Flemish nationalists was not conceivable. However, for the CD&V, the conclusion of an alliance which would also have a majority in Flanders, that is to say involving the N-VA, remains a priority.

According to Ms. Almaci, it is now time to change direction and consider “seriously” a coalition with environmentalists and possibly the CD&V.

The Groen president admitted, however, that she had not met with the informants for several weeks.

She was opposed to the organization of new legislative elections, while ensuring not to fear them.

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