Open VLD Rejects Brussels Coalition Proposal Amid Ongoing Deadlock
Frédéric De Gucht, a member of the Flemish liberal party Open VLD, has dismissed the coalition plan suggested by Yvan Verougstraete, the Brussels government facilitator from Les Engagés. De Gucht criticized the proposal as “something that would make the surrealist Magritte envious and cause Kafka to blush,” reports 24brussels.
On Monday, Verougstraete put forward a proposal for a coalition consisting of the French-speaking parties MR, PS, and Les Engagés, alongside the Dutch-speaking parties Groen, Open VLD, Vooruit, and CD&V. The aim was to form a majority while addressing the exclusion of the Flemish nationalist N-VA by allowing them to act as observers in the Brussels Common Community Commission (COCOM), responsible for bilingual competencies such as health, culture, and social services.
De Gucht, however, asserted that Brussels “deserves better” and emphasized that Open VLD was not inclined to enter negotiations under the current circumstances. “We are not needed in the Brussels government. If they want us at the table, it will be on our terms. We have no intention of going in with our trousers around our ankles and walking out naked,” he stated.
‘Brussels Deserves Better’
Verougstraete expressed regret over Open VLD’s refusal to engage in negotiations based on his seven-party majority proposal excluding the N-VA. “Open VLD is asking for substantive negotiations, but refuses to sit down at the table to negotiate the substance. Nobody understands that,” he remarked on Tuesday in response to De Gucht’s comments.
“This decision goes against the general interest and the interests of the people of Brussels”
“Six of the seven parties agree. The seventh refuses, thus risking a deadlock that could last weeks or even months. This decision goes against the general interest and the interests of the people of Brussels,” he added.
‘Hope Crushed’
Fouad Ahidar of the Team Fouad Ahidar (TFA) party voiced his disappointment with Open VLD’s actions, stating they have “crushed all hope” for coalition negotiations. He lamented the deadlock created by repeated vetoes and unrealistic demands from parties that lost the election, calling it “shameful and irresponsible.”
Ahidar further criticized parties that are intent on excluding TFA, even if it jeopardizes the future of the Brussels region. “We will tirelessly defend the voice of Brussels citizens and refuse to let paralysis become the norm. The era of political games is over. Action is needed, and fast,” he concluded.
“This situation clearly shows the deadlock created by repeated vetoes and unrealistic demands from parties that lost the election”
Brussels has been without a new government for 15 months following the June 2024 elections, marking the longest and most complex formation process in the region’s history. Negotiations have stalled repeatedly, primarily because the French-speaking socialist party PS refuses to collaborate with the N-VA. The liberal MR has also set stringent conditions, complicating the talks further.
