Nearly a year after the elections, the Francophone liberal MR party presented an 80-page policy statement to make "Brussels take its fate into its own hands" at a press conference on Wednesday.
The declaration was presented by party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez and David Leisterh, the leader of MR's Brussels chapter, who had been tasked with finding a regional government in June last year.
"We are very confident that this text will lead to a new Brussels Government. But I have stopped sticking a date on these kinds of things," Leisterh told The Brussels Times.
The text will now be sent to all parties, except radical left PTB-PVDA, Flemish far-right Vlaams Belang and regionalist newcomer Team Fouad Ahidar. MR expects replies from those parties by Monday. At the same time, the French-speaking Socialist Party (PS), the second-largest party after the elections, is trying to form a progressive coalition.
On Tuesday, Brussels PS leader Ahmed Laaouej organised talks with Flemish socialist party Vooruit, PTB-PVDA, Team Fouad Ahidar, and green parties Groen and Ecolo. Ecolo's participation is particularly noteworthy, as the party had previously made it clear they would be in opposition.
Yet after nearly a year of failing to form a government, MR's Bouchez called on Wednesday for "an unprecedented approach" in Brussels with the launch of the political declaration. The leader stressed that he wants a debate on the political agenda, before discussing the composition of the coalitions. "And we are taking public opinion as a witness. The text is the fruit of hundreds of hours with the negotiators. I am very confident about this approach, because it prevents political games."
'Not sexy' budgetary measures
"If it turns out that only a few adjustments are needed to get a majority behind the text, negotiations will start immediately," Bouchez said. "Otherwise, the text will be submitted to the Brussels Parliament, where it can be discussed further."
The text has been drawn up in three stages: an assessment, priorities and objective proposals. MR say they have consulted a number of institutions, including universities, the Council of State, the Court of Auditors and the Monitoring Committee.
The budgetary issue – even though it is "not sexy," according to Bouchez – is key. The aim is to reduce the Brussels Region's deficit and debt, but also to avoid a downgrade by the rating agencies, including Standard & Poor's in mid-June. "If the sustainability of Brussels' public finances is not restored, the Region will lose its ability to support the concerns of its inhabitants in a useful way."
MR David Leisterh and MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez during a press conference about a proposal for the negotiations to form a new government for the Brussels Capital Region. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
Therefore, MR proposes a seven-year path with an effort of €200 million a year (and €400 million in 2026) to reduce the deficit to €400-500 million by the end of the legislature.
With this in mind, the liberals are putting forward three priorities: employment and the economy; public services and cleanliness; and security. On the last point, MR are proposing that the Minister-President make "maximum use of his powers in the area of security."
Bouchez, whose party currently holds the federal Interior Ministry, stressed that the Brussels Government must act decisively in the areas of security and cleanliness to ensure public order, restore the authority of the state, strengthen the protection of citizens in public spaces and sustainably improve the quality of daily living conditions.
Additionally, an ambitious housing policy should be rolled out, based on support for home ownership and the fluid market through more predictable, better-targeted regulation of the rental market and refocused on truly problematic situations.
'Taking a risk'
The future Brussels Government must revitalise the economy and entrepreneurship and restore the conditions for growth through the development of value creation, freedom of enterprise and the restoration of employment.
With the federal decision to limit unemployment benefits to two years, the return to the labour market will have to be strengthened by a reform aimed at activating job seekers and individual responsibility. "I propose a copy-paste of the policy of the VDAB (Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training)," said Leisterh.
On mobility, MR want to get rid of the controversial 'Good Move' mobility plan. Instead, they will prioritise "freedom of choice, infrastructure efficiency, and an end to the policy of systematic restrictions." For the necessary investments in public transport, Bouchez refers to public-private partnerships (PPPs) as seen in other major cities like Paris.
MR David Leisterh and MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez presenting the proposal for the negotiations to form a new Brussels Government. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
On urban planning, the text calls for simplifying the process by cutting regulations which the party says delay investments. In terms of urban development, MR refers wants to focus on the development of the Brussels-Midi station neighbourhood, the Canal Zone, certain areas in Schaerbeek, and the Heysel area, among others.
Finally, the Region must be able to live up to its climate commitments. For MR, the insulation of buildings is a major problem and a properly calibrated and financially sustainable support mechanism must be introduced as soon as possible as an alternative to the "overpriced" Renolution premiums.
"By exposing ourselves, yes, we are taking a risk," said Leisterh. "We are taking responsibility, ready to put our shirt on to save Brussels."
Bad timing
Every proposal relies on the opinion of specialists, the admin or universities. Those who disagree with a proposal can submit an argued counter-proposal, Bouchez stressed.
Bouchez also returned to the talks between six progressive parties on Tuesday night at the initiative of Brussels PS leader Ahmed Laaouej. "Who believes that PTB-PVDA wants to cut public spending? Who thinks that Vooruit, which in the Federal Government agreed to limit unemployment benefits over time, will strike a deal with PTB-PVDA?"
David Leisterh particularly regretted Laaouej's timing. The meeting took place just in the week that the S&P credit rating agency descended on Brussels to gather information ahead of a new rating for the Capital Region on 13 June.
