Among the discord points are the official recognition of Palestine or support for possible European sanctions against Israel. Files that deeply divide the majority, with on the one hand, the CD&V and the committed, favorable to a firm position. On the other, the N-VA and especially the MR of Georges-Louis Bouchez, which opposes any change of line.
The threat of an alternative majority
Concretely, the president of Vooruit, Conner Rousseau, now threatens to use an alternative parliamentary majority to adopt sanctions against Israel. “”There has been a war for months, our patience is at the end, launched the president of the Flemish socialists in the morning of Radio 1 (VRT). LA N-VA seems to evolve towards another position. I did not receive any sign from the MR indicating that they were going to move. […] JI am a very loyal person, but our first loyalty must go to our principles and to humanity. If nothing changes, the government could enter into crisis. “
Declarations that made Georges-Louis Bouchez react strongly: “It is not because we are alone that we are wrong. History often shows that isolated individuals were rightreplied the president of the MR a few hours later on VTM. I note that many adopt more strategic than rational positions on the diplomatic and economic level, and which do not really contribute to peace. Would recognize Palestine tomorrow change the humanitarian situation? No ! […] If this recognition is done without condition, it is a way of rewarding Hamas. “
Regarding the threat of an alternative majority, Georges-Louis Bouchez believes that she would be equivalent to disconnecting the taking of the government: “An alternative majority would be the end of this government. A government works like a block. Otherwise, we could also consider alternative majorities on issues such as abortion, tax reduction or unions’ status. If some prefer to play the United Nations Secretary General rather than reforming the country, they can do it. “
Words that have not destabilized Conner Rousseau. “Doing nothing is no more an option,” he insisted a few hours later on VTM, while hoping “whole-heartedly” that a solution can be found within the coalition.
Agreement or rupture?
This crisis, fed by a certain bidding in the Flemish media space on the Palestinian issue between the CD&V and Vooruit, will it end, like others before it, by a great arrangement between the parties? Will Bart de Wever manage to hold his majority? Business to follow! As a reminder, the Chamber’s external relations committee will meet on August 14 to examine this file, following a request from the opposition supported by Vooruit and the CD&V, and tacitly accepted by the engaged and the N-VA.
However, since the very clear remarks of Conner Rousseau, the PTB has accentuated the pressure on the executive and requires that the commission will meet more quickly. “We do not need to wait for the MR and the N-VA to impose sanctions. An alternative majority is ready to do what many Belgians expect us”notes the deputy PTB Kemal Bilmez in a press release addressed to the media. “”But for this, the committed, Vooruit and the CD&V must go beyond the right intentions. They must join the acts to speech and quickly organize a vote. […] We ask that a commission be convened in an emergency. “