A good six months after the regional elections, there finally seems to be some movement in the Dutch negotiations. On Monday, <a href="https://www.world-today-news.com/open-vld-chairman-egbert-lachaert-to-the-king-will-he-and-ps-chairman-paul-magnette-become-preformateurs/" title="Open VLD chairman Egbert Lachaert to the king: will he and PS chairman Paul Magnette become preformateurs?”>Groen leader Elke Van den Brandt presented an introductory memorandum to Open VLD, Vooruit.brussels and the N-VA.
The consortium partners cannot yet say much about the content. However, the document would be more about basic principles and values, less about specific topics. “We are analyzing the text within the party and we will discuss it with the other parties tomorrow,” said moderator Frédéric De Gucht (Open VLD). He will replace Sven Gatz at the table temporarily, who is still absent due to illness.
Open VLD previously tied the fate of the N-VA. This quickly led to criticism from the French side, especially from the PS. Chairman Ahmed Laaouej already said that “The Brussels government with N-VA is not an option“.
Brussels wet
In response, De Gucht recalls the Brussels Act. “It is not up to Laaouej to talk about that. Dutch parties decide on the Dutch majority, the same applies to the French side. In principle, the two language groups have no influence on each other in that area.”
According to De Gucht, there are more important issues than criticizing the coalition partners. “On a budget of 6 billion euros, there is a deficit of 1.5 billion euros in the Brussels region. The debate should not be about who will stop the party, but about how we can get the area back on track as quickly as possible.”
In terms of time, De Gucht is already optimistic. “If it’s up to Open VLD, there could be a Dutch majority before Christmas.
2024-11-20 15:18:00
#Frédéric #Gucht #Brussels #government #month
Title: Breaking Down the Roadblocks: An Exclusive Interview on the Brussels Coalition Formation Process
Section 1: Introduction and Current Negotiation Status
Interviewer: Hello, thank you for joining me today. Can you introduce yourselves and provide updates on the current negotiations and your respective parties’ involvement?
Guest 1: Of course! I am Elke Van den Brandt, the leader of the Groen party. Our party played a crucial role in drafting the introductory memorandum that we presented to our fellow consortium partners Open VLD, Vooruit.brussels, and the N-VA. We believe this is a step forward in the process of forming a coalition government in Brussels.
Guest 2: I am Frédéric De Gucht, the moderator for Open VLD. Yes, I temporarily replaced Sven Gatz, who remains absent due to illness. We are analyzing the text within our party and will discuss it with the other parties tomorrow. While we cannot divulge specifics, we are optimistic about finding common ground with our counterparts.
Section 2: Criticism from French Sides and Language Groups
Interviewer: There has been some criticism from the French side regarding the inclusion of the N-VA in negotiations. How do you respond to these claims, especially in light of the Brussels Act?
Guest 1: We believe that the Brussels Act establishes that each language group should have equal representation in the region’s governance. The Dutch parties are entitled to decide their own political future, just as the French parties are. It’s important to focus on solving the region’s financial challenges and not get bogged down in language-based arguments.
Guest 2: Exactly, it’s not up to Laaouej or any other French politician to dictate who can and cannot participate in Dutch-majority negotiations. We should be discussing how to stabilize the region’s finances and ensure its long-term sustainability. This is a critical issue that affects everyone living here.
Section 3: Timeline and Expectations for an Agreement
Interviewer: With the end-of-year deadline approaching, how do you envision the formation of
