Political parties reach agreement on new Brussels government

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Seven political parties reached an agreement late Thursday on the formation of the next Brussels government 613 days after June 2024 elections.

Georges-Louis Bouchezm, who was appointed to lead the formation of the government, had made it clear that negotiations would conclude only once the parties agreed on a budgetary path toward balance by 2029.

That objective has now been secured, according to Anders party leader Frederic De Gucht.

The coalition agreement, reached after intensive talks, brings together the Reformist Movement (MR), Socialist Party (PS), Les Engages, Groen, Anders (formerly Open VLD), Vooruit and CD&V, Belga news agency reported.

The name of the future minister-president has yet to be announced.

De Gucht described the coalition as delivering "the real reform government" Brussels needs, pledging measures to make the region more efficient and financially sustainable, including mergers of various administrations and institutions.

The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) party led by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will not be part of the new government.

In earlier talks, a Dutch-speaking majority included N-VA, but the Francophone Socialist Party refused to govern with what it called an "anti-Brussels" party, while the Flemish liberal Anders insisted on N-VA's inclusion, blocking a compromise for months.

Speaking after an EU leaders meeting in Alden Biesen, De Wever expressed skepticism over the coalition’s ability to address Brussels’ significant budget deficit.

"From my perspective as prime minister, I am particularly interested in the restructuring of Brussels, which has a huge deficit. If this new government succeeds in this, I will be happy," he said.

Party conferences are scheduled for Thursday evening to approve the draft agreement, with the new Brussels government expected to be sworn in on Saturday.

Belgium operates under a complex federal system in which authority is divided among the federal state, regions and language-based communities.

The Brussels-Capital Region is one of the country’s three regions alongside Flanders and Wallonia and enjoys broad autonomy over economic and social policy within its territory.