Francophone greens Ecolo criticised MR's Brussels leader David Leisterh on Monday for failing to achieve any results despite post-election promises to change the daily lives of Brussels’ residents "in 100 days."
"One hundred days later, we see nothing. There is no plan, no strategy, and no trust between supposed partners," stated Ecolo, adding that they can only "note the MR's inability to uphold its commitments."
"David Leisterh and MR seem directionless. We were promised action, but all we get is fog and chatter," said John Pitseys, the Ecolo group leader in the Brussels Parliament, in a statement.
Pitseys highlighted the numerous and significant political challenges facing the Brussels Region, such as public finances, poverty, the climate crisis, and security.
"MR is currently absent. Over these 100 days, the liberals have mainly prepared Brussels for austerity and declared their indifference towards the environment." Pitseys added. "Moreover, federal negotiations show that Brussels is not a priority for MR, and the Region is not a dialogue partner. The Arizona note is disastrous for Brussels and its inhabitants."
Talks collapse over mobility
Over the weekend, the Flemish greens Groen quit negotiations on the Dutch-speaking side after accusing the Francophone liberals of having "stabbed Groen in the back."
Brussels formator Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) and federal Groen co-leader Nadia Naji announced on Friday that the party will no longer seek a majority on the Dutch-speaking side to form a Brussels Government after Francophone liberal MR "stabbed Groen in the back."
Groen formator Elke Van den Brandt (left), and MR's Georges-Louis Bouchez and David Leisterh. Credit: Belga
Talks collapsed over MR saying they wanted to postpone the Low Emission Zone in Brussels, and also attacked the mobility policy Good Move.
Federal MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez announced on social media last week that he also wants to do away the mobility plan. "Elke Van den Brandt cannot hold Brussels hostage. If this blockage continues, MR will also put an end to Good Move through parliament."
What now for Brussels?
Bouchez's social media post reportedly was the final straw for Groen leader Nadia Naji. "Yesterday it was about the low-emission zone, today it is Good Move and the liveability of our Brussels. Tomorrow it may be the 30 zone or climate policy: we do not know where it ends and we will not go along with that. Ça suffit, this is where we draw a line."
Former Brussels Government Elke Van den Brandt said that she was ceding the right of initiative on the Dutch-speaking side of the formation. "We do not have a monopoly on formation. If other parties can live with this MR and their method, they should negotiate."
Still, she remains "combative," she said. "We achieved 23% on 9 June. I am curious to see what majority Bouchez wants to find on the Dutch-speaking side, because for a new Brussels Government you need a majority not only on the French-speaking side, but also on the Dutch-speaking one."
