In mid-March, in fact, the two Brussels informants Christophe de Beukelaer (the committed) and Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) had proposed a coalition to seven parties, without the N-VA. But the initiative had corporate due to the refusal of the Open VLD – and the lack of enthusiasm of the MR – to let go of the Flemish nationalists.
“In fact, the initiative resumes a little bit where it had stopped in March, when it was a question of continuing the negotiations to six (Mr, PS, committed, Groen, Vooruit, CD & V), after the open vld door taps“, Slides a Brussels political source.
Maximum pressure
Are the same causes condemned to produce the same effects? Not necessarily, since the conditions have changed, to several titles.
The pressure on the negotiators of the various parties, and the exasperation of the population, reached an unprecedented level, after 15 months without government.
The PS failed to form a majority of the left, and the last attempt by the president of MR Georges-Louis Bouchez was not more successful, even if the track he had proposed (in which he gave a post as secretary of state to a compatible N-VA person) may have opened a breach.
This sequence has also improved relations between Ahmed Laaouej (PS) and Georges-Louis Bouchez. However, if on the side of the committed, we ensure that no preferential coalition is placed on the table at this stage, the most consistent track remains to associate the PS and the MR with the engaged, on the French -speaking side.
The initiative of Yvan Verougstraete also has the merit of being supported by Groen, Vooruit, and the CD & V. This means that there is only one party to form a majority, on the Dutch -speaking side, and that the CD&V clearly assumes that it agrees to participate in the next majority.
In other aspects, on the other hand, the context is less good than in March.
The MR backwards
David Leisterh, president of MR Brussels residents, received the invitation from Yvan Verougstraete to discuss. He should respond favorably, but without enthusiasm. Because the MR has little tasted the initiative of the committed, while Georges-Louis Bouchez and his party had not formally put an end to their mission.
The Brussels resident Yvan Verougstraete therefore takes care to spare the susceptibilities, containing a minimum media coverage of his meetings. “”It will not be the Yvan Verougstraete Show“warns a insider. The committed considers however that they have waited enough to take control: centrists have been in the starting blocks for three months already, waiting-in vain-that the MR throws in the towel to seize it.
“If we reach a six -party agreement, with an absolute majority in Brussels Parliament, it will be difficult for any Dutch -speaking party to block the establishment of a Brussels government“
The liberals also seem very skeptical about the chances of success of the president of the engaged. “”We are convinced that Frédéric de Gucht will not change any reviews, and that the Open VLD will not drop the N-VA. So we do not yet see where this initiative can go“, Slides a liberal.
“If we reach a six -party agreement, with an absolute majority in the Brussels Parliament, it will be difficult for any Dutch -speaking party to block the establishment of a Brussels government “objects a French -speaking source.
Bringing on a turnaround of the Open VLD, anyway, would be a very uncertain bet … bet on the presence of the N-VA, whose PS refuses the presence even in the corridor of a negotiation, is not less so.
Unless the committed and the PS are out, at the end of the race, a white rabbit from their hat? External support from Team Ahidar (via a vote in Brussels Parliament) could make it possible, mathematically, to validate the establishment of the Brussels government. The case of ex-deputy Vooruit has already animated the discussions on Monday.
Fouad Ahidar declines the invitation
Fouad Ahidar, who had never been received by the MR, was indeed invited to the meetings by Yvan Vernette. The MR did not appreciate the signal …
“We know all the complexity of the facilitator’s mission “commented an MR source. “”I hope this mission will be used to unlock the Brussels situation. However, when I see that the Communists and the Communitarians are invited, I do not understand well. Either it is symbolic and the signal sent is not good, or a solution with them is envisaged and it will be very complicated for us to endorse it “.
During the afternoon, Fouad Ahidar, however.
“Mr. Verougstraete had indicated that he invited everyone, including me. But in the same sentence, he said on Bruzz that he will not work with us. Why then invite me? It makes no sense “, Indicates Fouad Ahidar.
“As a facilitator, it seemed important to us to hear all the democratic parties in order to see with them what they can do to get out of the rut“, Underlines Yvan Verougstraete, contacted by Free.
The committed open and then close the door to a Brussels majority with Fouad Ahidar
Let us specify it all the same: Fouad Ahidar does not exclude support, ultimately, a Brussels government from the outside, if “A concrete project is offered to him “.
In Brussels, the committed are in the starting blocks to take over in the event of the mission of the MR mission
Anyway, the committed will have a lot to do to unlock Brussels. Personally, however, the president of the committed has much to lose. Yvan Verougstraete cannot be blamed if, like so many others before him, he fails. Conversely, a Brussels release would, for his young presidency, a beautiful founding act.
