Pre-formateur Bart De Wever (N-VA) has set new information sessions for Friday with representatives of the five parties expected to form a federal coalition. These sessions will focus on pensions and healthcare.
On Monday, representatives of the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), Mouvement Réformateur (MR), Les Engagés, Vooruit and Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) parties met for the first time with De Wever to discuss the budget at the National Bank.
This was followed on Tuesday by a second meeting at which they reviewed Defence and Energy.
The issues on Friday’s agenda are particularly sensitive, given the anticipated budget constraints facing the next government.
Over the weekend, De Wever is likely to engage in bilateral discussions with the parties, possibly leading up to a five-party meeting next week.
Next Wednesday, the pre-formateur is due to present a new report to the Head of State at the Royal Palace. Their last meeting was on 26 June, following which De Wever was tasked with preparing the formation of the incoming government. At the time, Vooruit and Les Engagés felt it was too early to move on to formation.
Some insiders within the possible coalition have not been hiding their desire to accelerate the process. On Monday, the President of MR, Georges-Louis Bouchez, stressed that it was time to “commit” and “take responsibility.”
